South Korean Pilot Plant Successfully Converts Landfill Methane into Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Pioneering SAF Production from Waste

A significant advancement in sustainable energy has been achieved in South Korea, where a pilot plant has successfully converted landfill methane into 100 kilograms of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) daily. This innovative project, a collaborative effort between the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and EN2CORE Technology Co., Ltd., marks a crucial step towards decarbonizing the aviation industry and establishing a circular economy.

The demonstration facility, situated at a landfill site in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, has proven the viability of producing high-value aviation fuel from readily available organic waste resources such as food waste and livestock manure.

Innovative Conversion Process

The core of this achievement lies in an integrated catalytic process developed by the research team, led by Dr. Yun-Jo Lee of KRICT. This process efficiently converts methane-rich gases, generated from the decomposition of organic waste, into liquid jet fuel. The collaboration with EN2CORE Technology also incorporated advanced plasma technology to enhance the conversion process.

Key aspects of the technological breakthrough include:

• Effective purification of landfill gas to obtain suitable intermediate raw materials.
• Efficient conversion of synthetic gas, an intermediate gaseous raw material, into liquid fuels.
• Achieving a liquid fuel selectivity exceeding 75 percent during the demonstration.

The pilot facility, approximately 100 square meters in size, successfully produced the target amount of SAF, showcasing the potential for smaller, decentralized production units.

Addressing SAF Challenges and Future Outlook

This development is particularly significant as it addresses two major challenges facing the widespread adoption of SAF: high production costs and limited feedstock availability. Traditional SAF production often relies on used cooking oil, which is constrained in supply and relatively expensive. By utilizing abundant and inexpensive landfill gas, the South Korean initiative offers a more sustainable and economically viable alternative.

The project's success paves the way for the establishment of decentralized SAF production systems, allowing for fuel generation at local landfills or smaller waste treatment facilities. KRICT President Young-Kuk Lee emphasized the technology's strong potential, stating it could become 'a representative solution capable of achieving both carbon neutrality and a circular economy.' The research team aims for full-scale commercialization of this technology around 2030.