Honeywell, Repsol partner to develop renewable fuel

American conglomerate Honeywell and Spanish energy giant Repsol have announced partnership to create new production pathways for biofuels and circular materials. The two will also explore the possible integration of these methods into the existing facilities of Repsol.

The companies plan to scale and commercialize technologies of Honeywell, which use various wastes like fats, oils, greases, biomass and solids for chemical production and renewable fuels at Repsol refineries. The official statement held that their goal is to produce different biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, while making use of existing refinery assets.

“As a global leader in sustainable fuel technologies, we seek collaborations to provide innovative solutions that help our customers and stakeholders to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions through biofuel production.” said Bryan Glover, Chief Growth Officer and CTO of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions. “Our collaboration with Repsol illustrates how Honeywell can apply new technologies to reduce carbon emissions while producing biofuels and advanced materials leveraging current refinery infrastructure.”

Finding solution to ‘plastics’

The multi-energy company is also analyzing the deployment of Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology, which turns waste plastic into Honeywell Recycled Polymer Feedstock for new plastics. It can recycle diverse plastics like colored, flexible, multilayered packaging and polystyrene. When used in conjunction with other chemical and mechanical recycling processes – along with improvements to collection and sorting – Honeywell’s UpCycle Process Technology has the potential to help create the capability to recycle nearly 90% of waste plastics. This would represent a considerable increase in the amount of waste plastics that can be turned into polymer feedstock.

“Renewable fuels and plastics recycling are crucial to Repsol’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050,” said Berta Cabello, Repsol Director of Renewable Fuels.

The two companies have a history of successful cooperation in various areas. In 2023, Repsol selected Honeywell Ecofining technology to make renewable fuels from sources like used cooking oil and waste animal fat at its plant in Puertollano, Spain.