07-07-2022

Tupras selects Ecofining™ technology from Honeywell UOP for Biofuel production

Honeywell announced today that TüpraÅŸ will license Honeywell UOP Ecofining™ technology to produce biofuels from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and waste animal fat at their refinery in Izmir, Türkiye. The new Ecofining™ plant is being designed to convert approximately 8,300 barrels per day of waste feeds/feedstocks to SAF, renewable diesel, and other products.

By utilizing the Honeywell Ecofining™ process, TüpraÅŸ should realize a capital efficient and high yield solution, ideal for producing biofuels and petrochemical precursors from renewable feedstocks. SAF and renewable diesel have similar molecules to petroleum-based diesel and jet fuels and can be used as a drop-in replacement without engine modifications. In the case of SAF, it can be used in blends of up to 50 percent with the remainder as conventional (fossil based) jet fuel. Apart from SAF, Bio-naphtha and Bio - LPG are used in the production of plastics, specifically olefins that are building blocks for other chemicals and aromatics used to produce polyester and other packaging materials.

Depending on feedstock choice, renewable diesel and SAF, which are produced from the Ecofining™ process, are expected to result in a significant reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel or aviation fuel from petroleum[1]. Honeywell is an early pioneer in SAF production with its Ecofining™ technology, which has been used to produce SAF commercially since 2016.

Serdar KemaloÄŸlu, Assistant General Manager at TüpraÅŸ for Technical Affairs, said, “As TüpraÅŸ, we have set out to become carbon neutral by 2050, as we expand into new sustainable business areas. A large portion of our investments will be allocated to new energy sources such as sustainable aviation fuels, green hydrogen and zero-carbon electricity. Biofuels will play a major role in the decarbonization of the industry. We aim to process 400,000 tons of bio feedstock by 2030, and triple our sustainable aviation fuel production capacity by 2035. We plan to become the largest SAF supplier in our country. In line with our future roadmap, TüpraÅŸ selected Honeywell Ecofining™ technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel from plant and animal-based waste feedstocks because it produces high yields of high-value renewable products.”

“This project is the first awarded in Türkiye and is significant because renewable fuels from waste feedstocks are the key to reducing the refining industry’s carbon footprint and meeting regulatory compliance. We, as Honeywell, are proud to be implementing this technology, which we pioneered, for the first time in our country, together with TüpraÅŸ,” said Uygar Doyuran, Honeywell Türkiye, Israel & CA President.

The Honeywell UOP Ecofining™ process, developed in conjunction with Eni SpA, can convert waste plant-based oils, animal fats and other waste feedstocks to renewable diesel and SAF.