From kitchen waste to sky-high costs: inside Hong Kong’s quest for green jet fuel
China’s once-notorious “gutter oil”, recycled from kitchen and drainage waste, has almost vanished from dining tables in recent years and now carries the nickname liquid gold. The substance has become a highly sought-after feedstock for producing clean energy, especially sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with biofuel producers such as Hong Kong-based Ecoceres sourcing gutter oil across the Greater…
Hong Kong faces a challenge in its quest to produce green jet fuel from recycled kitchen waste, known as "gutter oil." Once considered a food safety concern, this oil has transformed into a valuable commodity for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). However, the high cost remains a significant hurdle. Ecoceres, a Hong Kong-based biofuel producer, sources gutter oil across the Greater Bay Area, but the unit cost is now higher than the fuel itself.
Despite this, the city aims to incorporate 1 to 3 percent SAF in fuel consumed by flights departing from Hong Kong International Airport by 2030. Hong Kong, a major aviation hub, faces increased demand for SAF from airlines and regulatory bodies, with targets ranging from 1 to 5 percent by 2030. To achieve its goal, the Hong Kong government will study a mandatory consumption mechanism, launch publicity campaigns, and develop a local blending facility for SAF.
Additionally, the government plans to establish EcoCeres' SAF production base in Dongguan, which will start production by 2030.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
