Emerson Awarded Automation Contract for SkyNRG's 100,000 t/y SAF Plant in the Netherlands

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 15, Emerson was awarded an automation technology contract by Technip Energies to provide the DeltaV integrated control and safety system for the DSL-01 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant that SkyNRG is building in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The project is planned to produce 100,000 tonnes of SAF per year, has entered the construction phase, and is scheduled to start production in mid-2028.

The contract covers the plant's integrated control and safety system (ICSS), including the DeltaV distributed control system, the DeltaV safety instrumented system, and fire and gas detection functions. Emerson will also configure AMS Device Manager asset management software for device commissioning, condition monitoring, and intelligent field device diagnostics, and will provide project services from engineering implementation to system integration.

The automation system will cover the main process units of DSL-01, including the HEFA sustainable aviation fuel production unit, the feedstock pretreatment unit, and the on-site hydrogen production unit. The hydrogen production section uses Technip Energies' proprietary high-efficiency steam methane reforming technology; the main SAF process uses the HEFA route to convert feedstocks such as waste oils and fats into aviation fuel. The plant will also produce approximately 35,000 tonnes per year of bio-based by-products such as propane, butane, and naphtha.

SkyNRG reached financial close on the DSL-01 project and started construction in February 2026. Technip Energies had previously completed the project's front-end engineering design and was awarded the engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contract. The contract was classified by Technip Energies as "substantial," corresponding to its contract revenue range of EUR 500 million to EUR 1 billion.

The project is located in the Delfzijl chemical park. In addition to the main production units, the construction scope includes feedstock and product pipelines connecting to the southern dock and temporary construction areas. SkyNRG has obtained the required permits for the project and completed the project and financing agreements. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the main offtaker for the project's SAF.

Emerson will use DeltaV Electronic Marshalling and distributed CHARMs architecture in the project to reduce field wiring and improve adaptability to late design changes, while achieving unified integration with different modular process units. The related systems will be used for process control, safety shutdown, fire and gas monitoring, equipment diagnostics, and commissioning management during the plant startup phase.

DSL-01 uses Topsoe HydroFlex technology to implement the HEFA process and plans to produce its first products in 2028. SkyNRG disclosed that the SAF produced in the plant's initial phase achieves a life-cycle greenhouse gas reduction of approximately 80%, with a subsequent target of more than 90% as the share of renewable electricity use increases and natural gas use decreases.