eSAF – Holcim, IGNIS P2X and Exolum present ECO2FLY: a pioneering project for the decarbonization of the construction materials and air transport industries

Holcim, IGNIS P2X and Exolum have formed a strategic partnership to develop ECO2FLY, an innovative CO2 circular economy project that will transform industrial emissions – inherent in the cement production process – into sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF). These sustainable fuels can directly replace conventional kerosene made from fossil fuel with no need for adaptations in aircraft or supply infrastructure, facilitating the immediate decarbonization of air transportation.

The new facility, located at the Holcim factory in Villaluenga de la Sagra (Toledo), is designed to capture over 700,000 tons of CO2 annually during cement production. Part of this CO2 will be combined with green hydrogen produced from renewable energy to be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF), reaching an estimated production of 100,000 tons per year. The remaining CO2 will be stored permanently in geological repositories.

The combination of technology and production capacity for the fuel of the future of aviation positions ECO2FLY as a leader in Europe for the decarbonization of key development sectors considered difficult to decarbonize. In this context, Over the first 10 years of operation, ECO2FLY will avoid emissions of over 6.5 million tons of CO2.

José Antonio Membiela, CEO of IGNIS P2X, considers this project “the most important in the production of synthetic aviation fuel currently produced in Spain, both in terms of size and strategic location and the circularity it offers partners (energy, CO2 capture, methanol production and consumption in aviation). ECO2FLY combines the sustainability of a business of great important to the surrounding area, such as the cement industry, with the creation of new industry for decarbonization, which will generate employment and wealth for the region.

Here at ECO2FLY, companies have come together from different sectors, all of them key for society like construction, energy, mobility, tourism and logistics. This partnership is an example of how inter-sectoral collaboration allows Europe to successfully tackle the challenges faced. This project will be submitted to the next call of the European Union Innovation Funds. Its roll-out will not only contribute to the energy transition and help achieve net zero emissions, but it will also drive the position of Spain and the European Union as a leader in industrial innovation and sustainability, strengthening our energy independence.