Wheat straw tested as feedstock for SAF production

UK-based Nova Pangaea Technologies has successfully completed extended trials of its technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock from waste biomass. At its Teesside demonstration plant, the system operated continuously and steadily for up to 72 hours, with yields exceeding target specifications.

The technology can process wood waste, sawdust, wheat straw and other plant residues into feedstock that can subsequently be used for SAF production. Agricultural residues could therefore become an additional feedstock source for sustainable aviation fuel.

The developers see waste biomass as an alternative to feedstocks currently widely used in commercial SAF production, particularly used cooking oil. Growing competition for used cooking oil from different segments of the biofuels market is pushing up feedstock costs and increasing the need for alternative sources.

The technology is being developed under Project Speedbird, involving Nova Pangaea, British Airways and LanzaJet with support from the UK government. Combining Nova Pangaea’s waste biomass conversion technology with LanzaJet’s SAF technology could potentially create an integrated supply chain from plant residues to aviation fuel.

The technology remains at the pre-commercial stage, with no SAF currently being produced at market-scale volumes through this pathway. Further development will depend on maintaining stable yields, process reliability and competitive economics at commercial scale. If successfully scaled up, wheat straw and other agricultural residues could become an additional feedstock base for SAF production.

Tags: SAF, aviation fuel, wheat straw, fuel