The companies Topsoe and Sasol signed a comprehensive license agreement with the Canadian firm SUSTAERO. This technical collaboration will enable the development of advanced infrastructure dedicated to supplying sustainable aviation synthetic fuel (SAF) in North America. Specifically, the agreement provides for the joint use of the gas-to-liquids conversion technology known as G2L, which integrates gas reforming systems, hydrogen production, and hydroprocessing developed by Topsoe, together with the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and purification processes provided by Sasol.
The development of advanced SAF technology
First, the future industrial plant will process wood waste using the patented SOAR architecture to convert it into clean fuel. According to the technical data shared by the corporations, the petrochemical complex will generate an initial volume of 3,200 barrels per day of sustainable aviation fuel. In addition, the plant’s architectural design includes structural scalability capable of tripling the operating capacity recorded in the first phase of the project. In this way, the facility will optimize the use of local feedstocks and ensure supply security in the region.
Operating capacity and SAF supply projections
With regard to the sector outlook, the implementation of these patents responds directly to the urgent need to decarbonize international air transport. Currently, projections from the International Air Transport Association indicate that global SAF production will reach 1.9 million tonnes, a figure that doubles previously achieved commercial volumes. However, this volume represents only 0.6 percent of total jet fuel consumption worldwide. For this reason, international agencies suggest that the sector must reach a 10 percent SAF share by 2030 if it is to meet global climate targets.
Likewise, the G2L technology platform will operate as a single-point license that streamlines refining processes and reduces operational risks at the Canadian plant. This unified system processes gasified biomass or captured carbon dioxide using renewable hydrogen to obtain efficient fuels. Through this mechanism, the SUSTAERO project seeks to maximize return on investment, drastically reduce the industrial carbon footprint, and offer highly scalable energy solutions for the commercial aviation market.
Source and photo: Topsoe