Honeywell has announced an agreement with USA BioEnergy to implement its Experion® PKS Distributed Control System and safety system at the new Texas Renewable Fuels Bon Wier biorefinery. This advanced facility is set to convert wood waste into sustainable aviation fuel, highlighting Honeywell’s focus on three key megatrends: automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition.
Honeywell’s Experion® PKS will play a critical role in the central control and safety operations of the Texas Renewable Fuels plant. Its real-time data acquisition, monitoring, and control capabilities will streamline the complex process of converting wood waste into SAF. This integration is expected to boost operational efficiency, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. It will help USA BioEnergy meet production targets while minimising downtime, supporting the broader goal of reducing airline emissions and promoting sustainable aviation.
Nick Andrews, CEO of USA BioEnergy, said, “Our decision to select Honeywell’s Experion® DCS and safety systems for the Bon Wier facility ensures that we operate at the highest levels of efficiency and safety. Honeywell’s innovative solutions will be instrumental in our mission to produce sustainable aviation fuel with the industry’s lowest carbon intensity score.”
Located in Bon Wier, Texas, the $2.8 billion greenfield facility is designed to meet the increasing demand for SAF by converting sustainably sourced forest thinnings into fuel. USA BioEnergy has also signed a 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines, under which Southwest may purchase up to 680 million gallons of unblended SAF. Once blended with conventional jet fuel, this SAF could equate to 2.59 billion gallons of net-zero fuel, helping to avoid 30 million metric tonnes of CO2 over the agreement’s term.
Pramesh Maheshwari, president of Honeywell Process Solutions, commented, “Honeywell’s automation and safety solutions will be central to USA BioEnergy’s SAF facility and are aligned with advancing the future of aviation. This partnership not only reflects our commitment to sustainability but also showcases our ability to drive efficiency through intelligent operations.”
Beyond the DCS and safety systems, Honeywell will also install the Experion Industrial Security system, reinforcing the plant’s telecommunications infrastructure to ensure secure, reliable operations while mitigating cyber threats. This advanced security system is designed to safeguard critical assets, enhancing the facility’s overall resilience.
Honeywell, a pioneer in SAF production through its Ecofining™ process, continues to expand its renewable fuels portfolio, which now includes ethanol-to-jet technology and eFining™, a process that converts green hydrogen and carbon.
USA BioEnergy’s Texas Renewable Fuels Bon Wier facility is currently in the detailed design and engineering phase, with representation by Citi.
For more information visit www.honeywell.com
