Joint effort with LG Chem and nine other institutions

Project aims to demonstrate e-SAF production using CO2 and clean hydrogen

Hyundai E&C headquarters. [Hyundai E&C]
Hyundai E&C headquarters. [Hyundai E&C]

Hyundai E&C is stepping up its push to secure energy transition technology by joining a project to develop next-generation sustainable aviation fuel, known as e-SAF.

Hyundai E&C announced Thursday it has been selected as a participating company in a government-funded research project titled "Development of e-SAF Production Technology Through CO2 Conversion," led by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The company presented its project execution plan Wednesday at a kickoff ceremony for the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCU) Mega-Project, held at the Korea Institute of Energy Research in Daejeon. The event was attended by Seo Yu-taek, executive director at Hyundai E&C's HMG Construction Technology Research Institute, Shim Gyu-seok, executive vice president at LG Chem, and Ministry of Science and ICT officials, along with representatives from other participating institutions.

The project aims to demonstrate e-SAF technology that produces aviation fuel using captured carbon dioxide and clean hydrogen as feedstocks. Ten industry, academic and research institutions are participating jointly, with plans to develop e-SAF production technology in stages — from laboratory-scale experiments through to the construction of a demonstration plant.

Hyundai E&C will conduct research on e-SAF production processes using captured CO2 and provide design review and technical support for the demonstration plant. The company will use its existing research facilities to verify ways to improve production efficiency and will jointly carry out advanced process research to convert CO2-derived synthetic crude oil into sustainable aviation fuel.

Through this work, the project aims to achieve optimized integration between processes and improved product quality, ultimately securing commercially viable integrated process technology. The company expects the effort to lay the groundwork for commercializing sustainable aviation fuel production technology.

"This project has given us a foundation to build an integrated technology framework spanning the entire production chain for eco-friendly aviation fuel, by linking CCU technology with hydrogen and renewable energy infrastructure," a Hyundai E&C official said. "We plan to expand research and development connecting carbon reduction technology, the hydrogen ecosystem and energy infrastructure, and will continue to strengthen our capabilities in sustainable fuel production and energy transition."

Hyundai E&C said it will continue to broaden its development and demonstration of energy transition technologies — including hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel and nuclear power — as it works to build out its clean energy business.


lucky@heraldcorp.com