Mana, NORCE, and Equinor Join Forces to Launch Norway's First Waste-to-SAF Facility
- 16-Aug-2024 8:13 PM
- Journalist: Robert Hume
Mana, NORCE, and Equinor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing Norway’s first Waste-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant. The planned facility, located at Mongstad on Norway's western coast, aims to transform waste into clean aviation fuel, marking a significant step toward advancing sustainable fuel technology in the region. This partnership combines Mana's expertise in waste-to-clean fuels, NORCE’s research capabilities, and Equinor's energy industry experience to drive innovation in sustainable aviation fuel production.
The SAF facility will convert non-recyclable waste into clean fuel specifically for the aviation industry. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70% compared to conventional aviation fuel, making it a leading solution for decarbonizing air travel. In line with this, the EU's ‘ReFuelEU Aviation’ initiative requires jet fuel suppliers to incorporate a growing percentage of SAF into the fuel distributed to EU airports starting in 2025, driving the adoption of cleaner aviation fuels across Europe.
Mana, owned by NG Group and headquartered in Oslo, is Norway’s pioneering company focused on converting non-recyclable waste into clean fuels. As the country’s first enterprise dedicated to this innovative approach, Mana is at the forefront of advancing waste-to-fuel technologies, aiming to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability by transforming waste materials into valuable, eco-friendly energy sources.
Jon Bergan, CEO of Mana, expressed enthusiasm about the new early-phase partnership, highlighting the collaboration between companies from different parts of the value chain to advance the green transition. He emphasized their shared vision and complementary expertise, which will be pivotal in developing complex projects. Bergan noted that by harnessing the energy potential of non-recyclable waste, the partnership aims to significantly contribute to decarbonizing challenging sectors, such as aviation.
In conclusion, the SAF facility represents a significant advancement in sustainable aviation fuel technology, converting non-recyclable waste into clean fuel and offering a potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As SAF emerges as a key solution for decarbonizing aviation, the EU's ‘ReFuelEU Aviation’ initiative will further drive its adoption by requiring an increasing share of SAF in jet fuel supplied to EU airports from 2025 onward. This initiative underscores the growing commitment to achieving a more sustainable and environmentally responsible aviation sector.
Mana is a newly formed subsidiary of NG Group, a prominent player in waste management, established in early 2023 as part of the parent company's strategic pivot towards circular economy solutions. Leveraging NG Group's substantial scale, handling 2.3 million tons of waste annually with a robust 58% recycling rate, Mana is uniquely positioned to tackle a critical industry challenge: improving the treatment of waste currently destined for suboptimal methods like incineration. By developing innovative alternatives, Mana is at the forefront of transforming waste from a liability into a valuable resource, aligning with NG Group's overarching goal of enhancing its downstream waste management capabilities.