SAF 聯盟起飛，燃料轉型加速

在全球航空業加速脫碳轉型的背景下，四家能源與技術領導企業——Honeywell、Johnson Matthey、Samsung E&A 與 Gidara Energy——於6月5日共同宣布，正式成立「永續航空燃料技術聯盟（SAF Technology Alliance）」，目標是透過整合資源與模組化解決方案，加快永續航空燃料（SAF）從可行性評估到商業設施啟動的時間15%、並降低資本支出10%。

Against the backdrop of the global aviation sector’s accelerated push toward decarbonization, four industry leaders in energy and technology - Honeywell, Johnson Matthey, Samsung E&A, and Gidara Energy - announced on June 5 the formation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology Alliance (SAF Technology Alliance). The alliance aims to streamline the pathway from feasibility assessment to commercial-scale SAF facilities by reducing lead time by 15% and cutting capital expenditures by 10% through integrated resources and modular solutions.

根據聯盟發出的新聞稿，這一合作平台將採取非排他性產品策略，結合四家公司各自專長：Gidara 擅長氣化與合成氣生產、Johnson Matthey 提供合成氣轉換為燃料的催化與關鍵技術、Honeywell 將貢獻其自動化與數位管理技術、而 Samsung E&A 則負責全球工程、採購、製造與項目執行。

According to the alliance’s press release, the platform will adopt a non-exclusive product strategy, leveraging each company’s specific expertise: Gidara Energy brings advanced gasification and syngas production technologies; Johnson Matthey contributes catalytic and core technologies for converting syngas into fuels; Honeywell offers automation and digital management systems; and Samsung E&A will handle global engineering, procurement, fabrication, and project execution.

Honeywell 能源與永續解決方案執行長 Ken West 表示：「這是一個涵蓋端到端的 SAF 聯盟，展現出協作力量對應全球能源需求的潛力。隨著市場對 SAF 的需求不斷上升，擴大可用原料來源的技術將成為關鍵，而我們的整合聯盟可提供煉油商一個快速執行的戰略性路徑。」

Ken West, President of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions, stated:

Johnson Matthey 催化技術執行長 Maurits van Tol 則指出，聯盟的核心任務之一，是「解決 SAF 生產商普遍面臨的挑戰」，最終目的是加速全球 SAF 的部署進程。

“This is an end-to-end SAF alliance that demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing global energy demands. As SAF market demand continues to grow, technologies that can expand feedstock flexibility will be critical. Our integrated alliance provides refiners with a fast-execution, strategic pathway.”

Maurits van Tol, Chief Technology Officer at Johnson Matthey, emphasized that one of the alliance’s core missions is to

“solve the common challenges faced by SAF producers,” with the ultimate goal of accelerating global SAF deployment.

The alliance’s initial technical focus will center on gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, two scalable and mature technologies that enable the use of biomass and municipal solid waste (MSW) as feedstocks. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2023 report, waste, residues, and non-food energy crops are expected to supply up to 40% of global biofuel demand by 2030.

此次聯盟的首要技術重點，將放在氣化（Gasification）與費托合成（Fischer-Tropsch）兩大方法的規模化，這類工藝不僅成熟且靈活，能利用生質能與都市固體廢棄物（MSW）作為原料。根據國際能源總署（IEA）2023年報告，來自廢棄物、殘渣與非糧能源作物的生質燃料，可望在2030年前供應全球 40% 的生質燃料需求。

Hong Namkoong, CEO of Samsung E&A, noted that this cross-border collaboration will

Samsung E&A 執行長洪南宮表示，這項跨國合作的技術整合「將為 SAF 供應鏈注入更具彈性且可擴展的動能」。Gidara Energy 執行長 Norbert Kamp 補充：「我們希望藉此合作，真正釋放出廢棄物作為能源的價值，滿足全球對 SAF 不斷攀升的需求。」

“inject more resilience and scalability into the SAF value chain.” Norbert Kamp, CEO of Gidara Energy, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to unlock the true value of waste as an energy source to meet the soaring global demand for SAF.”

此次 SAF 技術聯盟的成立，也正值航空與海運產業積極尋求替代燃料解方之際。2024年，聯合航空（United Airlines）與捷藍航空（JetBlue）分別在特定機場啟動 SAF 採購專案，西南航空（Southwest Airlines）更直接收購 SAF 生產商 Saffire Renewables，以強化其低碳燃料供應網絡。

The launch of the SAF Technology Alliance comes at a time when the aviation and maritime industries are actively seeking alternative fuel solutions. In 2024, United Airlines and JetBlue launched SAF procurement initiatives at select airports, while Southwest Airlines went a step further by acquiring SAF producer Saffire Renewables to strengthen its low-carbon fuel supply network.

儘管投資持續擴大，根據國際航空運輸協會（IATA）預測，截至2025年，SAF 在全球航空燃料總體使用量中仍僅占不到 1%。如何在未來幾年內突破技術瓶頸、降低成本與擴大供應來源，將是 SAF 聯盟此類合作平台能否發揮決定性影響的關鍵。

Despite growing investments, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that SAF will account for less than 1% of total global aviation fuel consumption by 2025. Overcoming technological bottlenecks, reducing production costs, and expanding feedstock availability will be critical if alliances like this are to play a decisive role in scaling SAF deployment.