Synata Bio’s Sylonto Project Awarded $4.5 Million NDRC Grant
The waste carbon-to-ethanol facility will transform Henan Energy Group’s on-site waste gases into 50,000 tons of ethanol per year
Synata Bio is making strides in sustainable innovation with its Sylonto Project, a groundbreaking waste carbon-to-ethanol facility set to transform how industries handle carbon emissions. Recently, Synata Bio received a $4.5 million (RMB 32 million) grant from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), enabling this ambitious project to convert Henan Energy Group’s on-site waste gases into 50,000 tons of ethanol per year. This development represents a significant leap toward a sustainable future, creating both economic and environmental benefits.
What Is the Sylonto Project?
The Sylonto Project was launched as a joint venture in early 2023 to showcase Synata Bio’s advanced carbon utilization technology on a commercial scale. Synata Bio teamed up with Henan Longyu (the host of the chemical plant), Zhicheng (financial partner), and HOTO Engineering (engineering partner and contractor). Once fully operational, the Sylonto facility will transform waste gases into high-quality ethanol. While its initial target is producing 50,000 tons of ethanol per year, the venture has an ambitious roadmap to increase production to 500,000 tons annually by 2028.
The Importance of the NDRC Grant
The $4.5 million grant awarded by the NDRC is no small achievement. This funding comes from China’s energy-saving and carbon reduction budget, intended to support projects that align with the country’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. To qualify, projects must adhere to a rigorous “double-carbon” strategy with the highest 5-star difficulty rating. Out of thousands of annual applications, fewer than 10 projects are selected, making this grant a significant endorsement of Sylonto’s value and impact.
Jason Du, Synata Bio’s Vice President of Asia Commercial Development and Chief Scientist, explained the importance of this milestone: “By the time we formed the Sylonto joint venture, we had already spent 16 years in R&D fine-tuning our process for scalable decarbonization technology where CO2 emissions are particularly hard to abate. Now, with the NDRC grant, we are advancing and expanding our efforts with Sylonto.”
“To see the industry recognize the strength and value of Sylonto is a testament to what our team and partners have accomplished,” said Tim Cesarek, Synata Bio’s Chief Executive Officer. “Synata Bio’s technology is helping companies like Henan Energy Group not only meet their country’s carbon reduction goals, but also develop profitable circular products, and we look forward to expanding it into other markets around the world.”
How Sylonto Supports Sustainable Goals
Sylonto’s technology offers a circular solution, repurposing waste gases as a valuable resource instead of a harmful emission. By converting these gases into ethanol, Synata Bio helps companies like Henan Energy Group achieve China’s carbon reduction goals while creating profitable new revenue streams. According to Tim Cesarek, CEO of Synata Bio, “To see the industry recognize the strength and value of Sylonto is a testament to what our team and partners have accomplished. Synata Bio’s technology is helping companies meet their country’s carbon reduction goals, and we look forward to expanding it into other markets around the world.”
What’s Next for Sylonto?
The Sylonto facility is set to reach mechanical completion by the end of the year, marking a significant step toward full-scale production. With this, Synata Bio hopes to pave the way for more industries to adopt waste-to-resource technology, supporting global carbon reduction targets and a sustainable, profitable future.
Synata Bio’s Sylonto Project exemplifies the potential of carbon utilization technology to meet environmental and economic needs. With strong partnerships, innovative technology, and critical funding from the NDRC, Sylonto is poised to lead the way toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.
About Synata Bio
Founded in 2007 as Coskata, Synata Bio has invested 17 years of research and development into its scalable decarbonization technology for converting waste gases into low carbon-intensity fuels and chemicals. Using a proprietary fermentation process, this platform allows organizations to reduce carbon emissions while providing them with new revenue streams, all within their own existing infrastructure.
Source: Synata Bio, press release, 2024-11-12.