Gevo/Axen partner to broaden SAF
US energy firm Gevo Inc has formed a new strategic alliance to accelerate development and commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using the ethanol-to-jet pathway. It has tied up with materials firm Axens Group’s Jetanol technology to accelerate commercialisation of its patented ethanol-to-olefins (ETO) technology for further process and cost improvements.
“Today, Axens and Gevo are delivering the most cost-effective, commercially proven SAF technology with Axens Jetanol and Gevo’s process and business system,” says Dr. Paul Bloom, Chief Business Officer for Gevo. “By expanding our partnership to accelerate the commercialisation of Gevo’s ETO technology, we’re combining our industry expertise to further reduce costs and create SAF that is competitive with fossil fuels while capitalising on the growing carbon market.”
Axens and Gevo are building on their previous successful commercial cooperation to ensure they remain leaders in the ETJ space by partnering with IFPEN on the final development and commercial deployment of Gevo’s next-generation ETO process for fuel applications that are expected to achieve zero carbon intensity or better.
Gevo says its ETO process produces light olefins from ethanol, which can then be converted to transportation fuels utilising commercially proven oligomerisation and hydrogenation technologies.
Provided the technology development is completed successfully, Gevo is expected to lead deployment of its ETO technology in North America and Axens would provide process licensing, catalyst, equipment, and engineering services globally.
“The immense potential for both our companies to lead the future of air-travel decarbonisation is an obvious way forward,” says Quentin Debuisschert, CEO of Axens. “The combination of Gevo market know-how and capacity of project development with Axens best-in-class technology, Jetanol, is expected to allow a fast acceptance and adoption of the ETJ Pathway. The future ETO technology commercialization will keep Axens and Gevo on the cutting edge of the ETJ pathway by offering end-users and project developers the possibility to select the most attractive technology for their situation.”
