05-06-2025

Honeywell, Johnson Matthey, GIDARA Energy and SAMSUNG E&A form SAF technology alliance

Honeywell, Johnson Matthey, GIDARA Energy and SAMSUNG E&A today announced the formation of a strategic technology alliance to bring a groundbreaking end-to-end global solution to market for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from biomass and municipal solid waste. The alliance brings together a wealth of diverse expertise and capabilities to help customers streamline the entire SAF production chain – from feedstock to final product.

By collaborating, the companies plan to introduce a new joint technology offering that leverages the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) production process and aims to unlock abundant, globally available feedstock options to help meet the growing demand for SAF and support energy security. The joint approach aims to expedite project timelines and provide customers with a single point of accountability for project execution and product guarantees, ensuring communication, coordination and reliability throughout the SAF production process.

With the resources of all four companies, the integrated and modular solution is expected to reduce the time between feasibility study and facility startup by more than 15% and can reduce capital expenditures by up to 10%.¹

The innovative solution the technology alliance plans to bring to market is a non-exclusive offering designed for customers wanting a full-service delivery including:

• GIDARA Energy’s proficiency in gasification and syngas production for feedstock transformation.
• Johnson Matthey brings advanced catalysts and technology for syngas to fuels.
• Honeywell’s process technology and digital automation solutions.
• SAMSUNG E&A’s global expertise in engineering, procurement, construction and project execution management.

Over the near-term, the collaboration aims to scale the use of gasification and FT SAF production methods, while enabling biomass and municipal solid waste to be used as feedstocks. As the SAF industry faces limits of traditional feedstocks, this production method is becoming increasingly important with the International Energy Agency reporting that biofuels produced from waste and nonfood energy crops will meet more than 40% of total biofuel demand by 2030.²

SAF Technology Alliance Member Quotes

• “The launch of our innovative end-to-end SAF alliance demonstrates the power of collaboration to address the world’s energy demands,” said Ken West, President and CEO, Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions. “As demand for SAF increases, the technology to expand available feedstock options becomes increasingly vital. This comprehensive alliance provides refiners with a strategic approach to quickly execute their vision.”
• “The alliance targets the common challenges faced by SAF producers and offers a new way forward with greater speed and lower capital expense cost. Bringing such leading expertise together is critical in supporting our customers to reach the final investment decision on their projects and can help accelerate the deployment of SAF worldwide,” said Maurits van Tol, CEO of Catalyst Technologies, Johnson Matthey.
• “This alliance exemplifies what’s possible when expertise and ambition come together. By combining our forces, we are unlocking the value of waste to meet the growing demand for SAF,” said Dr. Norbert Kamp, CEO, GIDARA Energy. “We are not just providing a technical solution – we are helping clients and communities realise the potential of waste as a catalyst for a future supported by cleaner energy sources.”
• “At SAMSUNG E&A, we believe that delivering end-to-end SAF solutions requires more than innovation – it demands strong alliances with world-class technology providers. By integrating these advanced technologies and leveraging our proven engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) execution excellence, we are building a resilient and scalable SAF value chain that will drive the future of sustainable aviation,” said Hong Namkoong, President and CEO of SAMSUNG E&A.

The new alliance builds on the strong synthetic fuel collaboration between Johnson Matthey and Honeywell to provide methanol-to-jet and FT pathway solutions.

Together, Honeywell, Johnson Matthey, GIDARA Energy and SAMSUNG E&A are committed to fostering innovation and leading the movement toward increased global energy security. 

Honeywell’s recent announcement of its intention to acquire Johnson Matthey’s Catalyst Technologies business segment is wholly distinct from the alliance referenced in this press release.  Discussions regarding the alliance were part of ordinary course discussions between Honeywell and Johnson Matthey’s Catalyst Technologies business segment.

GIDARA Energy is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity firm that is decarbonizing the industrial economy.