Polski
Green Transformation Under Pressure: Aviation Fuel and CO2 at the Bottom of the North Sea
This week in the valves, pumps, and flow technology industry is all about decarbonization – but this time not on paper, rather in concrete and steel. From a Dutch aviation fuel plant to Danish deposits beneath the seabed, both projects show that Europe's energy transition needs robust automation, control systems, and process valves proven under extreme conditions. We take a look at two investments that will drive demand for our technologies in the coming years.
01 · Process Automation
Emerson to Automate European SAF Plant [1]
Emerson will supply the DeltaV control and safety system for a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant being built from the ground up in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The facility is expected to produce around 100,000 tonnes of aviation fuel annually, made from waste fats and oils – raw materials that, until recently, were destined for entirely different processing chains. This is the first dedicated SAF plant of its kind built from scratch in Europe, rather than as an extension of an existing refinery.
Interestingly, the project isn't limited to fuel production alone – the plant will also get its own hydrogen production unit based on steam methane reforming. This shows just how complex process installations are becoming today: automation must simultaneously oversee fuel production and the accompanying hydrogen infrastructure, while maintaining the highest safety standards.
The investment ties into the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which mandates a gradual increase in the share of sustainable aviation fuels in Europe's aviation fuel mix. For process control system suppliers, this is a signal that the SAF sector – still a niche today – will generate real demand for advanced automation and process valves in the coming years. This segment is worth watching, as more EU countries will need to build similar facilities to meet regulatory requirements.
02 · CO2 Sequestration
INEOS Launches Commercial CO2 Storage in the North Sea [2]
This week's second story takes us to the bottom of the North Sea, where INEOS Energy has begun full commercial operation of the Greensand facility – the first fully operational subsea carbon dioxide storage project of this scale in the European Union. Depleted Danish oil fields are being turned into a giant CO2 reservoir, with a target capacity measured in millions of tonnes per year.
What's especially interesting for our industry is the technical requirements of such a facility. Injecting CO2 beneath the seabed, under high pressure and in a corrosive subsea environment, requires valves and flow technology designed with a substantial safety margin – both in terms of tightness and material resistance. Every valve, pipeline, and fitting used in this type of installation must withstand years of operation in an aggressive marine environment without losing its seal. Greensand can therefore be seen as a proving ground for an entire generation of CCS (carbon capture and storage) solutions set to become widespread across Europe over the next decade.
03
Two Projects, One Direction
Although the SAF plant in Delfzijl and the Greensand facility in Denmark seemingly belong to different segments – aviation fuels and emissions storage – they are linked by the same mechanism: EU regulatory pressure is translating into concrete orders for control systems, process valves, and flow technologies built to withstand extreme operating conditions. For manufacturers and integrators in our industry, this is a clear signal of where to look for growing demand in the coming years. Both cases involve pioneering projects – the first-of-its-kind SAF plant built from scratch and the first fully commercial CCS installation in the European Union – meaning the technical standards being established now will become the benchmark for future investments across Europe.
04
See You at Valves&Pumps Expo 2027!
Topics such as automation for renewable fuel plants and valves for CCS installations will be among the main themes at Valves&Pumps Expo 2027 – Trade Fair for Industrial Fittings, Pumps, Valves, and Flow Technology. It's the best opportunity to see, in person, the solutions already driving Europe's energy transition, and to talk to the engineers behind projects like Greensand and the Delfzijl plant. See you there!
Invitation
Want to see live the control systems and valves that power the SAF plants and CCS installations covered in this roundup? Visit Valves&Pumps Expo 2027, where engineers and flow technology suppliers will showcase solutions for the most demanding process installations in Europe. Let's meet and talk about where our industry is heading!
Valves&Pumps Expo 2027