Topsoe to equip one of Brazil’s first SAF plants

Low-carbon technology specialist Topsoe will supply its technology for one of Brazil’s first commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants to be developed by Refinaria Riograndense.

Set to be operational in the first half of 2028, the plant will be based in Rio Grade and hopes to produce 16,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and SAF.

Under terms of a signed agreement announced today (13^th Nov), Topsoe will supply its HydroFlex™ and H2bridge™ technologies.

Topoe’s HydroFlex process takes feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oils and biocrude from waste and biomass and turns it into gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel.

On the other hand, its H2bridge circular solution helps to replace external fossil feedstocks with renewable liquid petroleum gas (LPG) or naphtha to produce hydrogen.

Earlier this year, Brazil passed its “Fuel of the Future” law, introducing the National Program for Sustainable Fuel for Aviation (ProBioQAV). The law states that, beginning in 2027, airlines must cut greenhouse gas emissions with SAF.

The targets begin with a 1% reduction in 2027, progressively increasing to 10% by 2037.

Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, said, “Riograndense is one of the country’s early movers to ensure SAF supply is available for airline operators on time.”

According to the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero scenario, over 10% of fuel consumption in aviation needs to be SAF by 2030 to stay on course for Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

In 2023, the International Air Transport Association estimated global SAF production to make up only around 0.2% of total jet fuel demand.