Global Bioenergies (Evry, France) announced that it has adapted its process for the conversion of plant resources into Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) to produce e-SAF, using acetic acid as a resource. e-SAFs are derived from the combination of CO2 and hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. In summary, ithe process involves feeding the bacterial strains producing isobutene (then transformed into SAF by simple oligomerization), no longer with plant resources, but with acetic acid. Most of the 5 million tons of acetic acid produced every year is obtained by combining methanol and carbon monoxide, which can both be produced from CO2 and hydrogen.
e‑SAFs maximize decarbonization impacts and offer an alternative to bio-SAFs, whose production relies on the use of plant resources. The e-SAF approach developed by Global Bioenergies stands out for its selectivity of over 95%, meaning that more than 95% of the molecules resulting from the process can be marketed as jet fuel. This selectivity exceeds that of other existing e-SAF technologies.
SAFs and e-SAFs are regulated by the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation. By 2030, aircrafts taking off from European airports will be required to carry on average in their tank:
– 4.8% bio-SAF, produced from plant resources, mandate which includes Global Bioenergies’ bio-SAF process from plant resources, and
– 1.2% e-SAF produced from CO2 and low-carbon electricity, mandate which includes Global Bioenergies’ e-SAF process.
Marc Delcourt, co-founder and CEO of Global Bioenergies, commented: “The prospect of producing not only bio-SAFs, but also e-SAFs, adds another string to our bow. In regions where plant resources are abundant (USA, Brazil, South-East Asia…), our bio-SAF approach will have an important role to play. In regions where plant resources are only available in limited quantities, our e-SAF approach will be deployed primarily: this is the case in Europe and North Asia in particular.”
Eva van Mastbergen, Team Lead R&D at SkyNRG, said: “Given the growing global demand for SAF, driven by the ReFuelEU mandate and rising SAF ambitions, the industry must increase production and diversify technologies to convert various sustainable feedstocks into SAF. Following our successful collaboration on ASTM qualification of Global Bioenergies’ SAF platform, we commend recent innovations supporting both bio-based SAF and e-SAF, advancing a more sustainable aviation industry.”