Mitsui, Taiyo Oil to begin joint study on SAF production in Japan

Photograph of Nansei Sekiyu (Photo: Mitsui & Co. Ltd.)

Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and Taiyo Oil Co. Ltd. have agreed to conduct a joint study concerning the production of ethanol-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, Mitsui announced July 26.

The purpose of this project is to build a reliable supply chain for high-quality SAF and renewable diesel in anticipation of future growth in demand for these fuels.

The project will combine the alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology of the American company LanzaJet Inc. and the plant-operating expertise developed by Taiyo Oil and its subsidiary Nansei Sekiyu K.K. through its oil-refining business with Mitsui’s procurement capabilities of ethanol feedstock.

The project is expected to begin production in 2028 at a site owned by Nansei Sekiyu, with a maximum yearly output of more than 58 million gallons of Japanese-made SAF and renewable diesel.

SAF can be used as an aviation fuel while renewable diesel is suitable for buses, trucks and other means of transportation that use light diesel oil as their fuel.

In April, this study was selected by the Okinawa General Bureau of the Cabinet Office as part of the 2023 Okinawa Clean Energy Introduction Promotion Research Program.

Mitsui has identified the expansion of business that helps to address climate change as a major priority.

The company sees the production and supply of SAF as a resolution of a major hurdle to the achievement of carbon neutrality in the aviation sector by 2050, as well as a medium- to long-term business opportunity, and will continue to contribute to the decarbonization of the aviation industry and the reliable supply of low-carbon fuels through this initiative.