Construction has commenced on Project Roadrunner in Texas, Infinium’s second e-fuels production site in the US.

The venue is poised to be the world's largest e-fuels production plant upon completion.

Located in Reeves County, near Pecos city, the facility is set to produce 23,000 tonnes (t) per year of sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) along with other e-fuel products.

The project is supported by investors such as alternative asset management company Brookfield Asset Management and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, an initiative of Bill Gates that invests in projects using emerging climate technologies.

Once operational, it will supply e-fuels to aviation companies, including American Airlines and International Airlines Group (IAG), which encompasses British Airways and Aer Lingus among other international airline brands.

E-fuels are synthetic fuels that are produced using waste carbon dioxide (CO₂) and renewable energy, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based fuels.

These fuels can be incorporated into existing transportation and chemical sector infrastructures and manufacturing processes.

Infinium reportedly became the first company in 2023 to produce and distribute commercial volumes of e-fuels in the US and Europe from its Project Pathfinder facility in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Roadrunner project has now attained financial close and represents a significant investment in the Texas region, supporting the creation of skilled jobs in construction, operations, and logistics.

The commercial agreements for Project Roadrunner have been structured to attract necessary capital and debt for the scaling of the e-fuels market.

The facility will utilise waste CO₂ and renewable energy, including 150MW of new wind generation capacity secured from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, a wholesale power generator.

Electrolyser manufacturer Electric Hydrogen will supply a 100MW HYPRPlant solution for on-site green hydrogen production, which will not only serve the eSAF facility but also support future hydrogen offtake opportunities.

The e-fuels produced at the Roadrunner facility will be available for domestic use and for export to international markets.

An agreement with IAG will see eSAF shipped to the UK to meet the requirements of the UK SAF Mandate, which mandates that by 2030, at least 10% of jet fuel used in UK flights must be sourced from sustainable feedstocks.

Construction is underway on the Roadrunner facility, which is expected to begin commercial operations by 2027.

This growth not only offers alternative low-carbon fuel options but also contributes to the diversification of the energy supply chain, stated Infinium.