JERA Participates in a Joint Study for the Establishment of a Commercial-Scale SAF Production Technology and the Creation of a Supply Chain2021/08/30
JERA Co., Inc. (“JERA”) has been selected by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (“NEDO”), following its call for participation in its “Biojet Fuel Production Technology Development Project,” to conduct a joint study in conjunction with Mitsubishi Power, Ltd. (“Mitsubishi Power”), Toyo Engineering Corporation (“Toyo Engineering”), and Itochu Corporation.
The four companies will work together to develop a commercial-scale supply chain for sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) derived through woody biomass gasification integrated with FT synthesis technology1 and will jointly study the conditions, measures, and technical issues necessary to quickly bring to market the woody biomass-derived aviation fuel that will play a role in the future domestic supply of SAF.
The project will run for approximately 4 years from FY2021 to FY2024. First, a feasibility study will be conducted for approximately two years. Then, based on the results, the project will turn toward supply chain development in the detailed design phase. The main roles of each company in the feasibility study are outlined below.
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JERA |
Study of commercial-scale applications, applicable laws and regulations, feedstock procurement, methods for mixing neat SAF and petroleum-derived jet fuels, SAF market research, business feasibility |
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Mitsubishi Power |
Basic design of commercial-scale gasification facilities |
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Toyo Engineering |
Basic design of commercial-scale FT synthesis (including distillation) facilities |
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Itochu Corporation |
Research into (i) supply logistic of SAF and by-products, and (ii) by-product markets |
JERA, Mitsubishi Power, and Toyo Engineering have already demonstrated continuous SAF production by gasification FT synthesis on a pilot scale under a NEDO-commissioned project2 carried out from FY2017 to FY2021. The SAF produced at the pilot plant was supplied to Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. in June this year. The knowledge accumulated in the demonstration project will be applied toward establishing the entire supply chain, including feedstock procurement, production technology, and product supply.
Under its “JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050” objective, JERA has been working to eliminate CO2 emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses by 2050. In addition, JERA will utilize its technologies and experience accumulated through the operation and maintenance of power plants over a long period of time to proactively tackle global warming in areas other than energy sector, and contribute to the early realization of a decarbonized society.
1 Gasification and FT (Fischer-Tropsch) synthesis technology: a technology whereby solid materials such as wood cellulose are reacted with water vapor and a small amount of oxygen in a gasifier to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen (gasification), which are then synthesized into liquid hydrocarbons (fuel) in an FT reactor using a catalyst.
2 Project summary: https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/activities/activities_ZZJP_100127.html