Norway’s Electrofuel Plans e-SAF Project in Oman

by Conrad Prabhu (Oman Daily Observer/Zwaya) A number of international players, along with their local partners, are progressing initiatives to support e-SAF production in Oman -- Norwegian sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) producer Nordic Electrofuel has revealed that it has ambitions to establish an e-SAF plant in the Sultanate of Oman, utilising renewable hydrogen as feedstock from the country’s emerging green hydrogen industry.

Privately-held Nordic Electrofuel says it plans to invest in a number of e-SAF production facilities in Europe and elsewhere with an aggregate capacity of around 1 billion litres of low-carbon jet fuel per annum by 2033. Its cost-efficient Power-to Liquid (PtL) technology utlises green hydrogen and CO2 to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). A pilot plant currently under development in Norway’s Porgrunn district is due to come into operation by 2027 with a capacity of 10 million litres of synthetic fuels per annum.

In the Middle East, Nordic Electrofuel says it has secured approvals for the development of a 350 million litres/year capacity e-SAF plant at Jubail in Saudi Arabia. The project, if suitably fast-tracked, can be targeted for launch by 2029, (Nordic Electrofuel's Chief Executive Gunnar) Holen noted in the interview.

As for its proposed Oman project, plant capacity is yet to be decided, he said, noting however that feedstock for the venture could come from the mega-scale green hydrogen developments expected to materialise in the coming years.

Nordic Electrofuel’s proposed investment in Oman, the Chief Executive pointed out, stands to benefit from cost-competitive renewable electricity given the abundance of high-quality solar and wind resources in the country.

In Oman, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is spearheading the effort to attract local and international investments in a national e-SAF production hub. Since its hosting of a landmark forum on Sustainable & Low Carbon Aviation Fuel in October 2023, a number of ambitious initiatives have been announced to support the production of e-SAF in the country.

Most notable is the initiative by the OSCAR (Oman Sustainable Cars and Aviation Refuelling) consortium to study the potential for e-gasoline and e-SAF production. The consortium comprises OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE), Dutco, Sumitomo Corporation Middle East FZE, Automobili Lamborghini SpA and Airbus.

Just earlier, SkyNRG, a sustainable aviation fuel solutions leader based in the Netherlands, signed an MoU with the CAA to explore the development of an e-SAF production facility in Oman.

Additionally, local Omani startup Wakud unveiled plans for the establishment of two major bio-refineries for the production of e-SAF with an investment totalling around $630 million. READ MORE

Excerpt from Nordic Electrofuel/Biobased Diesel Daily: Nordic Electrofuel announced in December that, in collaboration with Jump, it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu aimed at fostering cooperation in the development of large-scale production of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, using captured CO2 and green hydrogen.

Nordic Electrofuel, a project developer and technology provider supported by the European Union ETS Innovation Fund, is currently developing several commercial facilities to produce eSAF in Norway focusing on conversion of CO2 and renewable power, the first of which being an eFuels pilot plant at Herøya Industry Park.

Jump provides advice, funding and promotion for transformative initiatives and fosters a community of investors and entrepreneurs to scale innovative solutions.

The vision for Jubail includes the eventual implementation of direct air capture (DAC) technology for CO2, enabling the marketing of a comprehensive carbon-neutral solution to the global aviation industry.

DAC could facilitate a fully green circular industrial value chain with zero reliance on fossil fuels and no net emissions when the fuel is burned.

According to Nordic Electrofuel, Jubail boasts perhaps the highest concentration of serviced industrial land globally, along with resources for PVC solar power, skilled labor, industrial colleges, infrastructure, community support and feedstock such as waste CO2 and future blue and green hydrogen.

This unique combination positions the project for both financial and technical success, Nordic Electrofuel stated.

Jubail is already a producer and exporter of conventional jet fuel, making it well-equipped to transition quickly and economically to green and blue jet fuel production.

“The cooperation with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu and Jump for eFuel production in Jubail is a pivotal step in our journey towards global expansion and innovation leadership,” said Gunnar Holen, the CEO of Nordic Electrofuel. “Nordic Electrofuel is dedicated to leveraging this partnership to drive forward our mission of producing sustainable electrofuels. By combining our expertise with that of our partners, we aim to make significant strides in reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy alternatives. We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring and are excited to work together towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.”

The memorandum was officially signed Dec. 3 during the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities hosted by UNESCO in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. READ MORE