Honeywell partners with GranBio for eco-friendly aviation fuel
Honeywell, a multinational conglomerate, and GranBio Technologies, a biotech firm, have announced a collaboration to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that is carbon neutral. The partnership will merge Honeywell’s ethanol to jet (ETJ) technology with GranBio’s cellulosic ethanol AVAP® technology. This initiative will be executed at GranBio’s upcoming demonstration plant in the United States.
GranBio’s AVAP technology transforms biomass, including agricultural and forest residues, into low-cost, low-carbon-intensity sugars, lignin, and nanocellulose. These cellulosic sugars are then converted into SAF via Honeywell’s ETJ technology. The resulting jet fuel is expected to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based jet fuel.
Bernardo Gradin, CEO of GranBio, highlighted the potential of AVAP technology to enable the production of carbon-negative SAF, depending on the feedstock and plant configuration. The collaboration aims to utilise abundant, low-cost biomass feedstocks and diversify income streams, offering a cost advantage over other SAF producers.
Honeywell’s ETJ technology is a part of the company’s broader effort to meet the growing demand for renewable fuels. Barry Glickman, vice president of Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions, emphasised the company’s commitment to decarbonising air travel and highlighted the rapid deployment capability of their modular design solutions.
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected GranBio’s subsidiary AVAPCO to receive an $80 million grant to support the demonstration plant, expected to produce approximately 2 million gallons of SAF annually starting in 2026.
