New startup Synkero announces plans for a sustainable fuel facility at Port of Amsterdam
Synkero to develop a sustainable kerosine factory that aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry.
New factory for the production of a sustainable e-fuel
Recently launched startup Synkero has announced plans to develop a commercial factory for the production of synthetic sustainable kerosene.
The plant, which will be located at the Port of Amsterdam, is scheduled to be ready in 2027 and is set to produce up to 50,000 tons of sustainable kerosine per year. Currently, there is already a kerosene pipeline running from the Port of Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport Amsterdam . The new plant is expected to have a hugely positive impact on sustainability goals within the aviation industry.
Sustainable fuel, also called ‘e-fuel’, is produced by synthesising captured CO2 with green hydrogen, made from water and sustainable power sources. Although it is not currently possible for most aircrafts to switch to alternative energy sources, sustainable kerosene fuel can be mixed with fossil fuels to drastically reduce CO2 emissions, without needing to modify existing infrastructure, engines or equipment.
Koen Overtoom, CEO Port of Amsterdam says that “Making aviation more sustainable is important for the Amsterdam region and for the Netherlands. A factory in our port that produces sustainable kerosene in a circular way fits seamlessly with our strategy to be a forerunner in the energy transition.”
Switching to the new fuel will help contribute to the aviation industry’s “Smart and Sustainable” action plan, which aims for a 35% reduction in Dutch civil-aviation emissions for flights originating in the Netherlands by 2030.
A collaborative effort
The Synkero project will seek connection with sustainable initiatives in the North Sea Canal area. It also falls part of the Zenid Initiative, which brings together Uniper, Rotterdam The Hague Airport (part of Royal Schiphol Group), Climeworks, SkyNRG and Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport to promote CO2-neutral aviation.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the first airline in the world to invest in sustainable aviation fuel. Late April 2021, KLM completed the first commercial flight with a mixture of 500 liters of sustainable synthetic kerosene departing from Schiphol.