Holcim, IGNIS P2X and Exolum have formed a strategic partnership to develop ECO2FLY, an innovative CO₂ circular economy project that will transform industrial emissions – inherent in the cement production process – into sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF). These sustainable fuels can directly replace conventional kerosene made from fossil fuel with no need for adaptations in aircraft or supply infrastructure, facilitating the immediate decarbonization of air transportation.

The new facility, located at the Holcim factory in Villaluenga de la Sagra (Toledo), is designed to capture over 700,000 tpy of CO₂ during cement production. Part of this CO₂ will be combined with green H₂ produced from renewable energy to be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF), reaching an estimated production of 100,000 tpy. The remaining CO₂ will be stored permanently in geological repositories.

The combination of technology and production capacity for the fuel of the future of aviation positions ECO2FLY as a leader in Europe for the decarbonization of key development sectors considered difficult to decarbonize. In this context, Over the first 10 years of operation, ECO2FLY will avoid emissions of over 6.5 million tons of CO₂.

Ricardo de Pablos, CEO of Holcim España, said, “This strategic alliance between IGNIS P2X and Exolum represents a decisive step forward as part of our commitment to the transformation and decarbonization of the industry. Not only are we making progress on reducing the carbon emissions of our own processes, but we are also driving a key innovation for construction in the form of cement with a total carbon reduction.”

In this regard, Ignacio Casajús, Global Strategy & Growth Lead at Exolum, highlighted how “Exolum is making a firm commitment to the development of partnerships that allow the development of sustainable fuels that, as of today, are presented as the only viable solution to reducing carbon emissions in the short term in sectors like aviation and shipping.”

José Antonio Membiela, CEO of IGNIS P2X, considers this project “the most important in the production of synthetic aviation fuel currently produced in Spain, both in terms of size and strategic location and the circularity it offers partners (energy, CO₂ capture, methanol production and consumption in aviation). ECO2FLY combines the sustainability of a business of great important to the surrounding area, such as the cement industry, with the creation of new industry for decarbonization, which will generate employment and wealth for the region.

For his part, Javier Esteban, Director of the Consortium and Partner of P2X Spain, states that “this project is an opportunity to be leaders in Europe in the production of eSAF, which represents an enormous strategic value for the Spanish economy. It will be the start of a new industry that will create employment and wealth, and a new energy paradigm for the country, with the opportunity to become exporters of renewable fuel on a large scale for the first time.”