Honeywell Supplies eFining Technology for Verso Energy eSAF Projects

Honeywell has announced that Verso Energy will deploy Honeywell UOP’s eFining methanol-to-jet processing technology to produce electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) at seven planned facilities in France, Finland and the United States. The projects are designed to expand global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) capacity using electrofuel pathways based on captured carbon dioxide and renewable energy.

Methanol-to-Jet Pathway for Electrofuels
Honeywell’s eFining technology converts methanol derived from renewable power, hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide into aviation fuel-range hydrocarbons. The process produces electrofuels (eFuels), including eSAF, through catalytic conversion steps that yield jet fuel-compatible molecules.

When blended with conventional jet fuel, eSAF functions as a drop-in fuel that does not require modifications to aircraft engines or airport fuel infrastructure. According to Honeywell, lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from eSAF can be reduced by up to 88% compared to conventional jet fuel, depending on feedstock and energy sourcing assumptions.

The ability to utilize carbon dioxide as a feedstock supports circular carbon pathways and reduces reliance on limited biogenic lipid resources.

Seven Production Sites and Capacity Targets
Verso Energy plans to implement the technology across seven production sites located in France, Finland and the United States. Combined output from the facilities is expected to reach approximately 200 million gallons of eSAF per year.

Standardized plant design and Honeywell’s modular technology approach are intended to reduce capital expenditures, improve project replication and accelerate time to market.

Regulatory Drivers and EU Policy Context
Demand for eSAF is expected to increase under regulatory frameworks such as the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, which mandates increasing shares of sustainable aviation fuel in aviation fuel supply, including specific sub-targets for synthetic fuels by 2050.

Verso Energy’s first two projects, DEZiR and ReSTart, have received support from the EU Innovation Fund. The DEZiR project has also secured funding from the French government and is scheduled to begin operations around 2030. These facilities are positioned to be among the first large-scale European plants dedicated exclusively to eSAF production.

Addressing Cost and Feedstock Constraints
Renewable fuel deployment faces two primary constraints: feedstock availability and production cost. The methanol-to-jet route allows the use of abundant carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen as primary inputs, potentially improving scalability relative to bio-based pathways.

Honeywell states that ongoing process optimization focuses on plant size standardization, improved conversion efficiency, reduced utility consumption and shortened project timelines to address the cost premium typically associated with renewable fuels.

Broader Renewable Fuels Portfolio
The eFining technology complements Honeywell’s broader renewable fuels portfolio, which includes Ecofining, FT Unicracking, biocrude upgrading and ethanol-to-jet processes. These technologies enable multiple feedstock pathways for producing aviation and transportation fuels.

Through the deployment of eFining across seven planned facilities, Verso Energy and Honeywell aim to scale electrofuel production and contribute to decarbonization efforts in the aviation sector.