Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) has announced its sponsorship of Syzygy Plasmonics’ pilot program, in collaboration with RTI International, to demonstrate sustainable fuel production at RTI’s facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. This initiative aims to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) into low-carbon-intensity fuels, potentially replacing traditional petroleum-based jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline.
The six-month testing period will inform a techno-economic analysis for constructing a commercial-scale Syzygy e-fuels plant. Syzygy’s technology utilizes a fully electrified reactor to produce syngas from CO₂ and CH₄ through a dry methane reforming reaction. This syngas is then processed via a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit to produce various fuel grades. This method offers transportation companies and airlines a viable solution to reduce emissions and their carbon footprint.
Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, stated, “This demonstration will be the first of its kind and represents a disruptive step in carbon utilization. The sustainable fuels produced are expected to quickly achieve cost parity with today’s fossil fuels.”
SCOA’s involvement with Syzygy began in 2019 with an initial investment, followed by participation in the company’s Series C funding round. In August 2023, Syzygy, SCOA, and LOTTE Chemical entered a joint agreement to test a fully electric chemical reactor for clean hydrogen production, with plans to install the reactor at LOTTE Chemical’s facilities in Ulsan, South Korea, in the latter half of 2023.
Kensuke Sugii, Unit Head of the Hydrogen Business Unit, Energy Innovation Initiative Americas at SCOA, commented, “We believe companies like Syzygy Plasmonics are capable of bringing real change to the world through their groundbreaking, environmentally supportive technology.”
This collaboration underscores SCOA’s commitment to supporting innovative technologies that contribute to the global energy transition and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
