Alby PtX has chosen Topsoe and Sasol to supply the technologies for its planned synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) production plant in Alby, Sweden. The project will produce around 66,000 tons per year of e-SAF, helping to build up supplies of lower-carbon aviation fuel for the European markets.

The agreement combines Sasol’s low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch (LTFT™) technology with Topsoe’s eREACT™ and hydroprocessing technologies. The two companies will co-deliver an integrated gas-to-liquid (G2L) solution to convert renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide into synthetic aviation fuel.

The partnership was formalized through a license and engineering agreement signed between Topsoe, a global provider of energy transition technologies for clean and conventional fuels and chemicals, Sasol, an international chemicals and energy company, and Alby PtX.

Under the arrangement Topsoe will contribute its eREACT™ technology for synthetic gas production and its hydroprocessing capabilities. Sasol will combine the hydroprocessing process with its Fischer-Tropsch technology, which Sasol will supply to upgrade synthetic hydrocarbons into aviation fuel. This integrated approach is expected to allow the facility to reach its target annual production of approximately 66,000 metric tons of e-SAF.

The fuel made at the Swedish plant is for the European Union and the UK markets, where the demand for sustainable aviation fuel is becoming more important as the aviation industry seeks to cut its carbon footprint.

The project is expected to reach its final investment decision (FID) in 2028 and to start operations in 2031. The engineering packages from Topsoe and Sasol will be the technical basis for the next development phase and will move the project closer to that investment milestone.

For Topsoe, the agreement is another step in growing its e-SAF technology portfolio and supporting the development of large scale synthetic fuel production. The company has also recently entered into joint agreements with HDF Energy, Bharat Petroleum and Allied Biofuels along with Sasol.

“This project is important in the bigger picture of European energy security and the decarbonization of aviation,” said Yassir Ghiyati, Chief Commercial Officer of Topsoe.

Scaling up e-SAF production is an important milestone to boost Europe’s energy resilience and fuel supplies and decarbonize aviation. “Our strong gas-to-liquid offering, combining Topsoe’s and Sasol’s advanced technologies, can support Alby PtX as it moves the project to the next stage of development,” he said.

Sasol also pointed out the value it provides with its Fischer-Tropsch expertise, working with Topsoe to deliver Alby PtX an integrated technology solution for the production of sustainable aviation fuel.

As part of this collaboration, the two technology providers will provide the licensing arrangements, technical expertise and engineering capabilities required to support the development of the facility. The project will use existing processes to convert renewable hydrogen and captured carbon to aviation fuel, and aims to bring the production of synthetic sustainable fuel closer to commercial scale.

“The partnership combines decades of experience in technology development and certified synthetic fuel production,” said Andreas Schmid, Chairman of the Board at Alby PtX and Executive Director at Prime Capital AG.

He said the value of the collaboration lies in the complementary nature of the technologies, which are designed to optimize renewable electricity and captured carbon utilization while maximizing aviation fuel output.

“The application of technologies that have been proven over decades to a new production model gives Alby PtX a good basis for further developing the project,” said Schmid. He also stressed its potential contribution to aviation decarbonization and to reinforce the durability of Europe’s fuel supply.

Alby PtX is now at the next stage of development for its Swedish e-SAF facility with the 2028 investment decision and 2031 operational target as the project’s next major milestones, following the execution of the licensing and engineering agreement.