A coalition of businesses in Japan is developing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain model based on used cooking oil (UCO), the companies involved announced in a joint statement on 2 August.
JGC Holdings, REVO International, Cosmo Oil and JGC Japan, a domestic company of the JGC Group, announced that they would be working in partnership on a New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation project, known as the NEDO project.
While the production and supply of SAF had not been realised on a commercial scale in Japan, the coalition said its plan was to demonstrate and construct an SAF manufacturing supply chain model using UCO as a raw material with the aim of starting full scale supply by 2025.
As part of the project, the companies would receive subsidies from NEDO to cover the costs of starting SAF production and supply; designing and constructing SAF production facilities; demonstration operation and utility supply; and procurement of UCO as a raw material.
Odakyu Electric Railway Co, which had experience in the circular economy business (recycling business), would also be involved in the NEDO Project as a business partner of JGC HD, according to the coalition. The aim was to develop and demonstrate a smart IT system for the collection of UCO, the statement said.
JGC Holdings is involved in a range of activities and sectors including the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, biomass power generation and the chemical recycling of waste plastic.
Revo International is active in the production and sale of biofuels in Japan and in the formation of a nationwide UCO transaction network.
Part of the Cosmo Energy Group, Cosmo Oil was expanding from its core business of petroleum and petrochemical industry into the renewable energy business, according to the statement.
