In a week marked by bold announcements and technological leaps, Latin America's energy landscape is undergoing a transformation that could reshape the region's approach to sustainability, industrial growth, and the global energy transition. Two leading companies—Syzygy Plasmonics and White Martins—have unveiled significant projects in Uruguay and Brazil, respectively, signaling a new era for renewable fuels and green hydrogen production.
On September 5, 2025, Syzygy Plasmonics announced the deployment of its first NovaSAF-1 modular plant in Durazno, Uruguay, a facility set to produce PBS (presumably a sustainable aviation fuel) using biogas and renewable energy. According to Honeywell, which is partnering with Syzygy on this venture, the plant will leverage Honeywell UOP’s Unicracking hydrocracking technology—a tried-and-true process that has evolved over more than 70 years. This technological backbone is more than just a legacy; it is a testament to the enduring quest for cleaner, more efficient fuel manufacturing.
The NovaSAF-1 plant stands out for its innovative approach to feedstock and emissions. Designed to convert dairy waste into PBS, the process sidesteps traditional combustion methods, resulting in a substantial reduction in emissions commonly associated with fuel production. With a projected annual capacity exceeding 350,000 gallons, the facility is not just a milestone for Uruguay or even Latin America—it’s intended as a replicable model for more than 50,000 biogas plants around the world, as reported by Honeywell.
Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy, emphasized the scalability and economic promise of their approach. He noted, “Our modular architecture, when combined with Fischer-Tropsch technology, allows us to install production processes quickly and with lower financial risks—crucial in a market where traditional raw materials for PBS are limited.” Best further asserted that, under the right conditions, Syzygy’s approach achieves price competitiveness close to Jet-A fuel, a benchmark in the aviation industry. “The NovaSAF platform can produce large volumes of PBS in a cost-effective manner, taking advantage of abundant waste streams and clean energy,” he stated.
The joint venture between Syzygy and Honeywell is not just about technology; it’s about addressing two of the biggest hurdles facing sustainable fuels—production cost and feedstock flexibility. Honeywell, through its UOP division, brings solutions that enable the use of a wide range of sources, thereby accelerating the adoption of low-carbon fuels. Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP, explained, “The integration of our technology with Syzygy’s modular system demonstrates how PBS production can be scaled up in a viable and sustainable manner.” Honeywell’s modular solutions also cut deployment times for refineries and chemical plants, playing a vital role in the global energy transition.
This push for innovation aligns with projections from the International Energy Agency, which estimates that by 2030, more than 40% of biofuels will come from waste and non-food crops. The NovaSAF-1 initiative fits squarely within this vision, offering a scalable pathway to diversify the supply of PBS without competing with food crops. In the words of Honeywell, this alliance “sets a precedent for the future of clean fuels in aviation.”
Meanwhile, in Brazil, White Martins, a subsidiary of the Linde group, is making waves of its own. On September 4, 2025, the company revealed plans to commence operations at its second green hydrogen plant, located in Jacareí, São Paulo, within the current semester. According to BNamericas, this will be the first facility in Brazil to supply green hydrogen to the Southeast region, marking a significant step toward decarbonizing some of the country’s most industrialized areas.
The Jacareí plant boasts a production capacity of 800 tons per year, with 80% earmarked for industrial sectors such as steel, metalworking, food, and chemicals. The remaining 20% will go to the glass manufacturer Cebrace, supporting its emissions reduction program. White Martins’ first green hydrogen plant, situated in the Suape Industrial Complex in Pernambuco, has a capacity of 156 tons per year, highlighting the scale of the company’s expansion into green hydrogen.
Gilney Bastos, CEO of White Martins, spoke to BNamericas about the company’s broader ambitions: “We believe there’s room for growth. LNG is a strategic energy source for the energy transition and the decarbonization of industries across a variety of sectors.” The company is considering doubling the liquefaction capacity of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Paulínia, São Paulo, should demand warrant it. Bastos underscored that making natural gas prices more competitive is essential for such expansion, noting, “The benefits of natural gas are already known to everyone, and LNG allows us to transport the product to regions that do not yet have gas pipelines.”
White Martins’ commitment to sustainability is not limited to green hydrogen and LNG. In its 2023-24 biennium sustainability report, the company highlighted the opening of eight new industrial plants across Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Four of these are in Brazil (Maracanaú in Ceará; Ribas do Rio Pardo in Mato Grosso do Sul; Juiz de Fora and Barreiro in Minas Gerais), with the remainder in neighboring countries. Bastos emphasized, “We invested in technology, modernized operations, and expanded production capacity with new plants in South America, driving the energy transition and reducing emissions. We also invested in developing our talent and benefited more than a million people through social projects.”
What ties these developments together is a shared vision of sustainable growth, innovation, and the decarbonization of industry. Both Syzygy and White Martins are leveraging modular, flexible technologies that can be replicated and scaled—key ingredients for accelerating the energy transition across Latin America and beyond. Their projects not only address pressing environmental challenges but also offer economic opportunities for local communities and industries.
The region’s momentum is further bolstered by broader international trends. With the International Energy Agency projecting a significant shift toward waste-derived biofuels by 2030, Latin America’s embrace of biogas, green hydrogen, and LNG is both timely and strategic. These initiatives also signal to global investors and policymakers that the region is ready to play a leading role in the next chapter of clean energy innovation.
As the dust settles on these announcements, one thing is clear: the race to develop cleaner, more flexible, and more sustainable energy sources is well underway in Latin America. Whether it’s turning dairy waste into aviation fuel in Uruguay or supplying green hydrogen to Brazil’s industrial heartland, the region’s energy transition is gathering pace—and the world is watching closely.