- 30 Mar 2026: Velocys and SuMo commissioned a Fischer–Tropsch unit at SuMo's Wednesbury SMF, now operating stably.
- Initial runs confirmed expected reactor performance, including temperature control and CO conversion.
- SuMo's gasification is at TRL8 producing syngas; Velocys provided microFTL microchannel reactors and SQRCAT catalyst for FT liquids.
- Part of the ClearSkies project (UK DfT Advanced Fuels Fund) to demonstrate integrated waste-to-SAF with upgrading, carbon capture and modular on-site deployment.
Overview
On 30 March 2026 Velocys and Sustainable Molecules Ltd commissioned a Fischer–Tropsch (FT) unit at SuMo’s Sustainable Molecules Facility in Wednesbury; the unit is online and operating as expected, advancing integration of gasification and FT in a waste-to-fuels pathway.
Technical performance
The FT unit was installed and brought into operation over a short timeframe and is running under stable conditions; initial operation confirmed temperature control and carbon monoxide conversion behaviour consistent with design expectations. SuMo’s gasification has demonstrated TRL8 and Velocys supplied its microFTL microchannel reactors and SQRCAT catalyst for syngas-to-liquids conversion.
Project context
This work supports the ClearSkies project, funded by the UK Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund, which aims to demonstrate a fully integrated waste-to-SAF system combining advanced gasification, FT synthesis, upgrading and carbon capture on a single site. Velocys’ FT technology has prior operational history at commercial scale and in integrated SAF demonstrations.
Deployment implications
The modular, site-based approach tested at Wednesbury targets deployment at existing waste handling locations to reduce infrastructure requirements and improve scalability versus centralized production; the partners plan to expand demonstration capabilities at the SMF site toward a fully integrated SAF production system.
