Topsoe鈥檚 SAF Technology Selected by Zhongneng Yida in China
- 20-May-2025 9:00 PM
- Journalist: William Faulkner
Topsoe, a global leader in decarbonization technologies, has signed an agreement with Zhongneng Yida to deliver its HydroFlex庐 technology and catalysts for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The facility, to be located in Shijiazhuang within the Shenze Economic Development Zone in Hebei province, will have an annual SAF production capacity of 400,000 tons. The plant will use used cooking oil (UCO) as feedstock, contributing to significant emission reductions.
Once operational, the project is expected to avoid approximately 930,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions annually鈥攔oughly the same as preventing emissions from 2.6 million airline passengers flying from Beijing to Copenhagen.
鈥淭his collaboration with Zhongneng Yida reflects our mutual commitment to supporting the aviation industry鈥檚 ambitions to reach net-zero emissions,鈥 said Elena Scaltritti, chief commercial officer at Topsoe. 鈥淭he project will further accelerate the supply of SAF across Europe and China, and we look forward to advancing the energy transition together.鈥
Yin Feng, president of Zhongneng Yida, highlighted the project's strategic importance: 鈥淭he 400,000-ton-per-year SAF unit will be situated in the Shenze Economic Development Zone, which offers significant policy, geographic and environmental advantages. As global efforts intensify to peak and neutralize carbon emissions, bioenergy has become a key pillar in China鈥檚 national energy strategy. This project, jointly promoted by Zhongneng Yida and Denmark鈥檚 Topsoe A/S, is expected to generate 5.5 billion CNY in annual revenue.鈥
Construction of the SAF facility is set to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with commercial operations expected to launch in the first half of 2027. Initially, production will target the European market, with plans to expand distribution to the domestic Chinese market.
This agreement builds on Topsoe鈥檚 recent momentum in the SAF sector. The company announced similar agreements in 2024 and 2025 to supply its HydroFlex technology and catalysts to several other Chinese biofuel producers, including Zhejiang Jianglan Bio-Energy Technology Co. Ltd, Guangxi Free Trade Zone Chuangui Lingang New Energy Co. Ltd, and Guangxi Free Trade Zone Hungkun Biomass Fuel Co. Ltd.
Topsoe鈥檚 HydroFlex technology is widely recognized for its ability to convert renewable feedstocks into drop-in fuels that meet international aviation standards, helping reduce reliance on fossil-based jet fuels and advancing global climate goals.
HydroFlex庐 enables customers to transform a wide range of fats, oils, and greases into drop-in renewable jet fuel and diesel that comply with all internationally recognized fuel standards. The technology can be implemented in both newly built facilities and existing refineries, offering flexibility for co-processing with conventional feedstocks or for fully renewable fuel production.