USA BioEnergy chooses Honeywell tech for Texas biorefinery

In Texas, Honeywell announced it has signed an agreement with USA BioEnergy (USABE) to implement its Experion PKS Distributed Control System (DCS) and safety system at USABE’s new Texas Renewable Fuels Bon Wier advanced biorefinery, which is designed to convert wood waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This collaboration underscores Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends—automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition.

Honeywell Experion PKS will support the Texas Renewable Fuels plant’s central control and safety operations, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and safety. The system’s real-time data acquisition, monitoring, and control capabilities can revolutionize the complex processes involved in converting wood waste into SAF. By integrating these functions, Honeywell is set to significantly enhance operational efficiency and help USA BioEnergy achieve its production targets with minimal downtime, ultimately leading to reduced airline emissions and more sustainable commercial flight.

Located in Bon Wier, Texas, the planned $2.8 billion greenfield facility aims to address airlines’ growing demand for SAF by converting sustainably sourced forest thinnings into SAF. In advance of the facility’s opening, USA BioEnergy recently signed a 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines Co. under which Southwest may purchase up to 680 million gallons of neat – or unblended – SAF. Once blended with conventional jet fuel, the SAF could produce the equivalent of 2.59 billion gallons of net-zero fuel and avoid 30 million metric tons of CO2 over the offtake agreement term.