Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. (Osaka City, Japan; www.sekisuichemical.com) and Velocys Inc. (Houston, Tex.; www.velocys.com) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to advance production technology for electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF), a CO2-derived synthetic fuel. This partnership combines Sekisui’s CO2→CO chemical looping technology with Velocys’ Fischer-Tropsch (FT) microchannel reactor technology to enable the manufacture of synthetic fuels using CO2 as a feedstock, thus contributing to decarbonization.
The aviation industry accounts for approximately 2.6% of global CO2 emissions, and a key emission reduction measure that is gaining attention is the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). According to the International Energy Agency (IEA; Paris, France; www.iea.org) and other organizations, 65% of CO2 reduction targets for the aviation industry can be achieved through the adoption of SAF. At present, conventional SAF is manufactured from waste oil and biomass-derived raw materials. However, considering the anticipated increase in SAF demand going forward, the early commencement and widespread adoption of e-SAF—which is manufactured from CO2 and hydrogen derived from renewable energy—is considered essential.
In this context, CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) technology, which converts CO2 into fuel and chemical products for practical use, is attracting attention. CCU technology enables the reuse of CO2 as a valuable resource and replaces fossil resources, thereby reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Sekisui Chemical is working to reduce global CO2 emissions through the social implementation of CCU technology. To date, it has developed a unique chemical looping technology that converts CO2 into CO with a high reaction yield (90% or higher).
Velocys has been developing FT reaction technology for the manufacture of synthetic fuels from synthetic gas (a mixture of CO and H2) converted from municipal waste, industrial waste, biomass, and CO2 for over 20 years. Its proprietary catalyst and microchannel reactor design have established productivity six to ten times higher than conventional FT reaction technology.
Collaboration overview
This project aims to establish a new e-SAF manufacturing technology by combining SEKISUI CHEMICAL’s proprietary CO2→CO chemical looping reaction technology, which achieves high reaction yields (90% or higher), with Velocys’ FT reaction technology (synthetic gas → synthetic fuel), which achieves high CO conversion rates (90–95%).
In the future, the two companies will work to establish a highly efficient e-SAF manufacturing technology using CO2 as a raw material, thereby contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation industry and the realization of a sustainable society.
