Start-up of first CO₂ conversion unit for SAF feedstock production in Finland

Gloggnitz, Austria, 16.07.2024

Liquid Sun has successfully started-up a CO₂ valorization unit supplied by GIG Karasek. The system is essential to SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) production utilizing captured carbon dioxide and was installed at Liquid Sun’s demonstration plant in Tampere, Finland. This milestone marks Finland's first LTE (Low-Temperature Electrolyzer) technology that demonstrates the industrial process.

With the new CO₂ conversion unit, Liquid Sun and GIG Karasek are achieving a breakthrough in environmentally friendly aviation with significantly lower CO₂ emissions. The system produces green carbon monoxide from captured carbon dioxide. Green carbon monoxide serves as an important raw material for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, in which it is converted into liquid fuel such as SAF.

First CO₂ conversion unit for SAF production in Finland. © GIG Karasek

Andreas Schnitzhofer, Managing Director at GIG Karasek, explains: "The issue of SAF is urgent in many respects. In autumn 2023, the EU Parliament passed the so-called 'RefuelEU Aviation initiative' ¹ , which obliges airlines to refuel with at least two percent SAF at European airports from 2025. By 2030, the proportion is to rise to six percent, and by 2050 to 70 percent." 

With the innovative demo plant, Liquid Sun is conducting groundbreaking tests to optimize the technology and gain valuable operating parameters (such as efficiency, yield, and energy consumption). These can be directly scaled up for an industrial plant with multiple LTE units – an important precondition for the rapid commercialization of the technology.

"To give some perspective, with this demonstration unit, we can produce SAF feedstock for a test flight. But we are already thinking about the next steps. The scale of the next pilot plant will be many times larger and could already have the capacity to refuel an Airbus A330!" says Harri Ali-Löytty, Chief Technology Officer at Liquid Sun.

"With our demo plant, we are laying the foundation for the commercial production of SAF. The Nordic countries have a considerable amount of forestry and biogenic CO₂. With our technology, significant emission reduction targets can be achieved. However, active participation from the entire value chain is required, with SAF users playing a key role," explains Pasi Keinänen, CEO of Liquid Sun.

In April of this year, Liquid Sun and GIG Karasek announced their collaboration to standardize its LTE technology for more efficient and cost-effective production. Additional focus topics are the development of a commercial LTE pilot plant and the further development of LT electrolysis units and catalysts. The latter is particularly important to improve reaction speed and yield and thus operational and cost efficiency.

Mohammad Rezaei, Head of Environmental Technologies at GIG Karasek, summarizes: "The successful start-up confirms that we have already achieved a great deal together. We will continue to pursue our common goal of integrating our emission-free and easily scalable LTE technology into existing industrial processes as quickly as possible with the utmost commitment."

 Would you like to know more? Please contact us: ent.gigkarasek@gigkarasek.at

Source reference: ¹ https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/eu-lawmakers-approve-binding-green-fuel-targets-aviation-2023-09-13/