Honeywell announced that Verso Energy has selected Honeywell UOP’s eFining™ methanol-to-jet technology for seven planned electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) production facilities in France, Finland and the United States. The deployment is expected to accelerate project timelines, optimise capital investment and contribute to expanding global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) capacity.
Honeywell’s eFining process converts methanol derived from captured carbon dioxide, renewable electricity and hydrogen into a range of electrofuels, including eSAF. When blended with conventional jet fuel, eSAF functions as a direct replacement without requiring modifications to aircraft engines or airport fueling infrastructure. The fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 88 percent compared to traditional jet fuel, depending on feedstock and production pathways.
Verso Energy plans to leverage Honeywell’s established process design and modular engineering approach to scale production efficiently across multiple sites. The seven facilities are projected to produce a combined total of approximately 200 million gallons of eSAF annually once fully operational.
Antoine Huard, CEO of Verso Energy, stated that cost-effective and efficient production will be essential as airlines work to comply with emerging regulatory requirements. He noted that pairing Honeywell’s SAF processing expertise with Verso’s standardized plant design strategy will support rapid deployment and faster market availability of eSAF volumes.
Demand for eSAF is expected to rise significantly under the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, which sets progressive targets for the use of sustainable aviation fuels, including a requirement that aviation fuel supply reach at least 35 percent eSAF by 2050. By incorporating Honeywell’s processing technology, Verso Energy aims to enhance output while utilising carbon dioxide as a primary feedstock, supporting circular carbon solutions.
Barry Glickman, Vice President of Honeywell Low Carbon Energy, said the company’s SAF technology portfolio addresses two primary challenges in renewable fuel production: cost competitiveness and feedstock access. He added that ongoing advancements in process efficiency, plant design and energy consumption are helping narrow the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels.
Verso Energy has secured support from the European Union Innovation Fund for its DEZiR and ReSTart projects, which are set to become among Europe’s first large-scale facilities dedicated exclusively to eSAF production. The DEZiR project has also received backing from the French government and is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.
