Power2X partners with Advario to develop world-scale eSAF hub in Port of Rotterdam

Image: Advario

Advario announced Oct. 16 that it is partnering with Power2X to develop a world-scale production and storage hub for sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) and synthetic, ultra-low carbon fuels in the Port of Rotterdam.

The Power2X production facility will have the capacity to produce over 250,000 metric tons per year of eSAF, a nonfossil synthetic fuel made from green hydrogen.

It will be the largest eSAF facility announced to date, according to Advario, making sufficient ultra-low carbon fuel to fully power approximately 7,000 flights between Amsterdam and New York annually.

The facility will use imported green methanol produced from green hydrogen and biogenic carbon as feedstock as well as locally produced green hydrogen.

Green methanol will be imported from locations where renewable energy and green hydrogen are abundant.

Advario will develop an advanced storage and logistics facility with a capacity of approximately 230,000 cubic meters (more than 60 million gallons), supported by marine and rail facilities, to ensure a stable supply chain for the green molecules.

The strategic location in the Port of Rotterdam offers direct access to European airports, including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, making it a key hub for the distribution of sustainable aviation fuels and eFuels.

Advario acquired the 26-hectare former Aluchemie site in Rotterdam in April 2023 and has since been working with Power2X to transform it into a hub for new energy solutions.

With its waterfront access and proximity to the key hydrogen pipeline, the site is positioned as a prime location for the development of sustainable energy within one of Europe’s major energy and chemical hubs.

Advario said it and Power2X are committed to creating future-proof solutions and supporting green innovation and broader European decarbonization goals.

Sustainable aviation fuel is critical to reducing CO2 emissions, cutting lifecycle-carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to conventional jet fuel.

Europe’s ReFuelEU aviation regulation mandates the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel, including eSAF from 2030 onwards.

The hub will contribute 40 percent of the required eSAF volume when it starts up around the turn of the decade, making it a crucial player in Europe’s energy transition.

“The project demonstrates our commitment to developing the next generation of energy infrastructure and accelerating the energy transition,” said Occo Roelofsen, the founder and CEO of Power2X. “This strategically positioned site and innovative business-model aims to make competitive production of eSAF at global scale in the heart of Europe possible. It underscores our leadership in driving decarbonization and delivering sustainable solutions for the future.”

Bas Verkooijen, CEO of Advario, added, “This initiative is a prime example of Advario’s strategy to play a frontrunner role in the energy transition. We are very pleased to enter into this long- term partnership with Power2X, providing essential storage and logistics infrastructure for their world-scale eSAF facility.”

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said, “SAF production facilities in Rotterdam currently supply 24 percent of Europe’s aviation-fuel need. According to the European Union’s target, 20 percent of all aviation fuel is to be produced from renewable sources. The production of eSAF in Rotterdam is therefore important to meet future SAF demand. This project by Advario and Power2X is an example of the successful conversion of land in the Port of Rotterdam from fossil fuel to green, sustainable production.”