#54. Dan Szeezil of UOP: We’ve Never Been More Active in Renewable Diesel and SAF As We Are Now

Following the successful Q&A roundtable discussion on the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) last month, I decided to do a video podcast series with several SAF producers and technology developers to get their insight into the future of SAF. First on deck is a discussion with Dan Szeezil, Product Marketing Manager for UOP. Following are several excerpts from our discussion, which you can view or download below, or listen to in ITunes.

On the Interest in Ecofining, Renewable Diesel and SAF:

“We’ve really never been more active than we have now. And the activity really has been a worldwide development. So not just North America, but Europe, and Asia and everywhere. We’re seeing a lot of activity here. The response to our technology in the market has been very good, not only in the renewable diesel space, but along with the renewable jet fuel space. As you touched on, there’s a lot of increased interest around sustainable aviation fuels. And we’re seeing a lot of increased interest today for producers trying to look forward to what this SAF future might look like.”

On Changes in the Refining Industry and Interest in Renewable Diesel and SAF:

“It’s clear that the refining industry is re-evaluating the use of their existing assets and infrastructure at their sites. I think it’s a combination of two things. One, there’s been a clear shift towards an interest in producing sustainable fuels and renewable fuels worldwide. But it’s also been some of the ramifications of COVID and some of the downturn in the petroleum demand that’s forced the refining industry to reevaluate how these assets might be performing and what they might be able to be repurposed toward.”

On Feedstock Availability:

“The feedstock question is an important component of project development. And as you touched on with all of the new announcements or potential announcements for new projects in this space, it has brought the issue of feedstock procurement to probably the number one success point with regard to developing a project. We have looked at a lot of the potential supply for sustainable feeds going forwards, as well as utilizing some existing vegetable oil crop oil seeds as well for these fuels. Traditionally, the growth of the supply of the feedstocks has sort of matched the increase in renewable projects. But of course, with the large surge we’re seeing today, people are starting to question whether that the supply can expand to meet it. I think there’s a lot of untapped potential for sourcing sustainable feeds from other parts of the world, as opposed to sourcing them locally in North America and in Europe.”

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