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Syzygy Plasmonics and Trafigura's Historic Agreement for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

In a significant milestone for the aviation industry, Syzygy Plasmonics has entered into a groundbreaking six-year agreement for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Trafigura, a leading global commodity trading firm. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the production and availability of SAF, crucial for meeting upcoming regulatory requirements and reducing aviation's environmental impact.

The agreement is particularly compelling, as it covers the entire output of Syzygy's first production facility, NovaSAF-1, which is expected to begin deliveries in 2028. Trafigura will also have the option to purchase additional volumes from Syzygy’s future projects. This innovative collaboration opens the pathway for utilizing abundantly available biogas to produce competitively priced SAF, addressing the critical supply constraints highlighted in the Global Feedstock Assessment for SAF Production Outlook to 2050.

Meeting Aviation's Sustainability Goals
This agreement comes at a pivotal moment when regulatory frameworks are tightening around the use of sustainable fuels in aviation. The shift towards advanced aviation fuels is critical as industries face increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Syzygy’s innovative approach combines biogas and renewable electricity in a modular and electrified production platform. The scalable model promises cost competitiveness against traditional SAF pathways that often rely on constrained feedstocks, such as used cooking oils.

The Syzygy production system, branded as NovaSAF™, has already achieved pre-certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) to produce Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) and comply with Advanced Bio SAF standards. This gives regions like Europe and the UK additional scalable options to meet their ambitious decarbonization targets set for 2030.

Strategic Impact on the Market
“This agreement represents a crucial step in our journey towards a commercial impact and market disruption for SAF,” stated Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics. “With an offtake agreement signed with a global leader like Trafigura, and after successfully completing our front-end engineering in December, we are now ready to secure financing for the construction of NovaSAF-1 and transition our technology from potential to production.”

The first commercial endeavor, NovaSAF-1, will be located in Durazno, Uruguay. It will be the world’s first electrified facility converting biogas into SAF, producing RFNBO-certified fuel. The project intends to leverage biogas from a local milk powder plant and utilize Uruguay’s renewable electricity to manufacture synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK). This method has the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by over 90% compared to traditional fossil jet fuels.

Jason Breslaw, Trafigura's Head of Low Carbon Fuels, remarked, “This offtake agreement complements our strategy to support the industry’s efforts in diversifying SAF supply, particularly as regulations increasingly mandate advanced fuels usage. Leveraging our global low-carbon fuel network enables us to assist aviation clients with their sustainability requirements effectively and economically.”

Towards Global Commercialization
This pivotal agreement advances Syzygy's mission to seize the considerable global opportunity of cost-effectively converting biogas into SAF while utilizing renewable electricity. By establishing this commercial model, Syzygy is poised to replicate its project model worldwide, scaling up SAF production at competitive prices globally. Having completed FEL 3 engineering in December, the next step involves raising funds to finance the construction of NovaSAF-1.

About Syzygy Plasmonics

Syzygy Plasmonics is pioneering technology aimed at decarbonizing chemical production via its light-driven reactor technology. By substituting fossil fuel combustion with renewable electricity, Syzygy enables the production of SAF at unmatched pricing. Based in Houston, Texas, the company is driving the world towards a cleaner future through the power of photocatalysis.

For further information, visit Syzygy Plasmonics.

About Trafigura

Founded over 30 years ago, Trafigura is an employee-owned leading commodity trading firm. At the heart of global supply chains, Trafigura connects vital resources to power and build the world. The firm deploys infrastructure, market expertise, and its global logistics network to transport oil, petroleum products, metals, minerals, gas, and electricity where they are needed most, fostering strong relationships to make supply chains more effective, safer, and sustainable. Additionally, Trafigura invests in renewable energy projects and technologies to assist the transition to a lower carbon economy.

Learn more at Trafigura.