Honeywell has announced that its modular Ecofining technology, along with advanced pumps, compressors, and integrated automation and safety systems, will support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel at Acelen Renewables’ new facility in Bahia, Brazil.
As global demand for SAF is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, fuel producers are seeking faster and more cost-effective ways to expand capacity. Honeywell’s modular approach enables quicker project deployment by reducing construction timelines and overall costs, helping refiners bring SAF production online more rapidly compared to conventional plant-building methods.
“Brazil is set to produce the fuel of the future through a project that is sustainable—economically, socially, and environmentally,” said Marcelo Cordaro, COO of Acelen Renewables. “The Bahia facility project supports biodiversity and fosters an economy based on sustainability. Honeywell’s process technology and automation expertise will help maximize the production of lower-emission fuels at our facility, supporting the growing global demand for renewable fuels.”
The Honeywell UOP Ecofining process, developed with Eni SpA, efficiently converts waste fats, oils, and greases into renewable diesel and SAF that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% when blended with conventional jet fuel[2].
“Honeywell’s low-carbon process technologies are enabling companies like Acelen to address the growing demand for renewable fuels by using a variety of feedstocks,” said Ken West, president and CEO of Honeywell Process Technology. “Technology and integrated automation play a pivotal role in reducing the cost of renewable fuels, which is essential for broad adoption. Advances in Honeywell’s technology have reduced the cost to produce SAF and the use of novel, low-cost feedstocks will help further reduce production costs.”
Honeywell has delivered more than 1,500 modular process units, across multiple technologies, worldwide. Honeywell’s integrated control and safety system is enriched by Honeywell UOP’s vast operational expertise and cutting-edge technologies and is embedded within the Experion PKS platform. As a result, it can significantly reduce project timelines and risks while helping to optimize biofuel production to achieve operational excellence. The combination of process technology and automation provides a platform for digitization and data driven operating insights.
[1] Bloomberg NEF April 2025 research
[2] GHG reductions are based on ICAO CORSIA default lifecycle emissions values for CORSIA-eligible fuels, Table 2 – Used Cooking Oil.
