UK-based power-to-liquid sustainable e-fuels development company Carbon Neutral Fuels has announced its choice of technology partners for its flagship e-fuels facility, to be constructed at Workington in north-west England. The development of this facility, which would produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), was designated Project Starling, with construction planned to start in 2028 and production to commence in 2031.

The technology partners were global sustainable technologies group Johnson Matthey and global major energy group bp, with their FT CANS technology, and US global major hydrocarbon and petrochemical technology company Honeywell UOP, with its Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Unicracking process technology. The FT CANS technology would convert synthesis gas from captured CO₂ and water into synthetic crude oil. The FT Unicracking technology would then convert this into synthetic kerosene. The plant would have an annual production capacity of 25 000 t of SAF.

“Project Starling is central to Carbon Neutral Fuels’ mission to prove that large-scale decarbonisation of aviation is both technically and economically viable,” highlighted Carbon Neutral Fuels co-founder Sophie Zienkiewicz. “By working with world-class technology partners such as Honeywell and Johnson Matthey, we are building a facility capable of delivering more than 95% lifecycle emissions savings compared with conventional jet fuel, while helping to establish the UK as a leader in sustainable e-fuels.”

The company was busy holding talks with airlines, fuel companies and other strategic partners regarding both long-term offtake agreements and opportunities for joint developments. Over the next decade, global SAF demand was expected to increase from 344-million gallons to 7.6-billion gallons.

“Deploying FT CANS technology at Project Starling demonstrates how advanced process and catalyst solutions can enable the next generation of sustainable aviation fuels,” affirmed Johnson Matthey MD: Licensing Alberto Giovanzana. “Working alongside Carbon Neutral Fuels and Honeywell highlights how collaboration across the value chain can help accelerate the transition to lower carbon aviation.”

“Honeywell’s FT Unicracking technology is designed to provide flexibility, efficiency and cost-effective upgrading of synthetic feedstocks into high quality transportation fuels,” pointed out Honeywell UOP president Rajesh Gattupalli. “We are pleased to support Carbon Neutral Fuels as it advances Project Starling and contributes to the expansion of sustainable aviation fuel production.”