Published by Todd Bush on March 26, 2026
Southern Energy Renewables, a leader in clean fuels and products, today announced progress update and key leadership appointments designed to optimize strategy, strengthen execution, and accelerate growth.
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Design and construction of the syngas-to-methanol and methanol-to hydrocarbons process demonstration units (PDU) have been started. The addition of these PDUs to Frontline BioEnergy's existing clean syngas PDU at Frontline's headquarters will allow the organization to optimize and verify commercial readiness for its commercial facility in Louisiana. The fully integrated PDUs will ensure that each technological component integrates properly and produces each end product on spec. Southern Energy has also brought on two seasoned veterans from the energy industry.
Nevin Smalls, Chief Strategy Officer, commented:
"Our continuous progress as a team shows we are committed to executing and meeting deadlines; it also shows the industry that we are taking the steps needed to ensure success. We want our partners to know they can count on us to get the job done and we want our country to know we plan to follow through to develop a facility that supports energy independence. This also builds upon our vision of competing against China on a global stage and building out facilities like these that don't rely on subsidies."
Jerod Smeenk, Frontline CEO, commented:
"The design and construction of syngas-to-methanol and methanol-to-hydrocarbons PDUs will be significant additions to Frontline's existing clean-syngas PDU. Fully integrated demonstration of fuel production from biomass will provide crucial data to support the design and operation of Southern's commercial facilities."
Sunny Trinh, DevvStream CEO, commented:
"Frontline's integrated clean syngas platform represents a critical step in validating next-generation biomass-to-fuels pathways at a systems level. By anchoring environmental asset development at the PDU stage, we're able to translate real performance data into high-quality, financeable carbon assets. This positions the broader platform for scalable monetization as it advances toward commercial deployment."
Alexandre Javidi has joined the company as Chief Technology Officer ("CTO"). Mr. Javidi is a seasoned technologist in clean energy technologies, who served in senior roles at Axens, where he led large-scale projects, developed innovative catalytic processes, and managed global business development efforts.. Alex also led the global alcohol-to-jet development team at Axens, which supported customers like Gevo and many more. He will bring his expertise in commercializing new technology as Southern develops the first integrated biomass-to-methanol-to-jet plants around the world.
Alexandre Javidi, Chief Technology Officer of Southern Energy Renewables, commented:
"I'm honored to join Southern Energy at this exciting inflection point for both clean fuels and products. Global demand for a clean circular supply chain is accelerating, and Southern Energy and their partners are well-positioned to lead through the rapid deployment of their technology and business plans to support the transition into the circular economy. It is great to join a company with a vision to provide clean products that don't require subsidies and that compete with China and the rest of the industry on a global scale. I hope to bring my experience from leading the alcohol-to-jet technologies at different projects to Southern."
Tom Becker has joined the company as Technical Advisor in CCUS. Mr. Becker is a seasoned geologist in carbon capture utilization and storage, who served in senior roles at ExxonMobil, where he prospected some of the first CCUS wells, participated in a global CCUS task force, and managed related business development efforts. His expertise in commercializing CCUS wells will directly support Southern's Louisiana project
Tom Becker, Technical Advisor of Southern Energy Renewables, commented:
"I'm honored to join Southern Energy to help advance vertical integration with CCUS and the production for clean fuels and products. Global demand for CCUS is growing and Southern can lead this front and bring vertical integration to it. Bringing my expertise in CCUS will aid in Southern advancing its project in Louisiana."
With over 20 years of experience in refining, petrochemical, and biofuel industries, Alexandre combines deep technical knowledge with strong business leadership. He shapes the technology roadmap, fosters collaborations with research institutions, industry partners, and technical government agencies, and accelerates the commercialization of breakthrough renewable energy technologies. Prior to Southern Energy Renewables, Alexandre held senior roles at Axens. He led large-scale projects, developed innovative catalytic processes, and managed global business development efforts in sustainable aviation fuels and biofuels. Alexandre's expertise also includes extensive operational experience in unit operations, process, engineering, and plant commissioning. As CTO, he is responsible for overseeing the implementation of new technologies on site production, ensuring seamless integration between innovation and operational execution to maximize efficiency and sustainability.
Tom Becker is currently a co-founder and executive director of Serpentine Energy (Pty) Ltd., a company pursuing subsurface stimulated geologic hydrogen in South Africa since 2024. From 2021-2024, he was a co-founder and executive director of Astris Advisors, which served as the executive team that led a VC-backed purchase of Rhino Resources Ltd. and a technical advisor for the Exploration, Research, and Production companies at ExxonMobil from 2005-2021. He has broad technical expertise in several subsurface technologies, including CCUS, carbon mineralization, non-hydrocarbon gas exploration, conventional petroleum exploration and production, basin modeling, and seismic interpretation. He holds a B.S. in Geological Sciences from Case Western Reserve University, an M.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Lehigh University, a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Kentucky, along with graduate certificates from University of North Carolina, University of Texas, MIT, Stanford University, and Harvard University.
DevvStream (NASDAQ:DEVS) is a carbon management company focused on the development, investment, and sale of environmental assets worldwide, including carbon credits and renewable energy certificates.
Southern Energy Renewables Inc. is a U.S.-based clean fuels, chemicals and products developer focused on advancing large-scale biomass-to-fuels projects. These projects are in development and designed to produce carbon-negative SAF and green methanol, supported by integrated carbon capture and sequestration.
XCF Global, Inc. ("XCF") is an emerging sustainable aviation fuel company dedicated to accelerating the aviation industry's transition to net-zero emissions. Our flagship facility, New Rise Renewables Reno, has a permitted nameplate production capacity of 38 million gallons per year, positioning XCF as an early mover among large-scale SAF producers in North America. XCF is working to advance a pipeline of potential expansion opportunities in Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida, and to build partnerships across the energy and transportation sectors to scale SAF globally. XCF is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trades under the ticker, SAFX.
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