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Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Jet Zero Australia and LanzaJet partner to deploy AtJ SAF tech in Queensland

Jet Zero Australia and LanzaJet partner to deploy AtJ SAF tech in Queensland
According to CANEGROWERS, sugarcane is an important rural industry for Australia – 4 000 sugarcane farms supply 24 sugar mills with 35 million tonnes of sugarcane annually (photo courtesy SRA).

US-headed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer and technology provider LanzaJet Inc. has announced that it is collaborating with Jet Zero Australia to start project development to progress towards the deployment of its Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant in Queensland (QLD), Australia.

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The plant, which could be Australia’s first ATJ sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility, is supported by the Queensland Government, Qantas Group, and Airbus as part of the Australian SAF Partnership.

LanzaJet’s proprietary ATJ technology, which has been developed and scaled for over a decade, produces drop-in, low-carbon intensity sustainable aviation fuel from ethanol for airlines to utilize without any aircraft or aviation infrastructure modifications.

As exciting as it is for LanzaJet to deploy its alcohol-to-jet technology to decarbonize aviation in Australia, it is equally gratifying to know its impact in developing the domestic agricultural industry, providing a path for energy security, and enhancing the country’s national security posture and greater fuel independence, said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet.

SAF has been identified by airlines, governments, and energy leaders as the clearest and most immediate solution to decarbonizing aviation, which amounts to approximately 3 percent of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with Australia being the second-biggest emitter of carbon per capita on domestic air travel.

We have enjoyed the privilege of partnering with public and private sector leaders around the world to fight climate change and enable the global energy transition, and this is an important step forward in Australia. All parties involved in Jet Zero Australia and the Australian SAF Partnership, from global aviation leaders in Qantas Group and Airbus to the Queensland Government are serious in their commitment to scaling SAF production at the urgency our planet needs. LanzaJet looks forward to seeing the impact this project has on Australia’s domestic biofuels industry as well as the larger global impact, Jimmy Samartzis said.

Target domestic aviation market

The SAF produced in Queensland will grow the supply for the Australian domestic market, including the nation’s flag carrier, Qantas Group, which has committed to using 10 percent SAF in its overall fuel consumption by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Qantas is currently using SAF sourced overseas to power commercial flights out of London, UK, and expects to add San Francisco and Los Angeles, US in 2025.

This is a first but significant step towards turning agricultural and sugarcane byproducts into aviation fuel to power flights around Australia. SAF is a drop-in solution that we can use with current technologies and it’s critical to the decarbonization of the aviation industry, said Andrew Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer for Qantas Group.

As part of its US$200 million investment in Australian SAF development, Qantas Group and aerospace giant Airbus will jointly invest a total of AU$2 million in early-stage project capital, with the Queensland Government and additional private investment from Australian and international institutions supporting the total capital raise of AU$6 million.

The project’s partners will conduct a feasibility study and early-stage project development in Queensland.

Ensuring a sustainable future for our industry is a priority for Airbus, working with partners across the world and from all sectors. There is growing positive momentum around SAF, and it is now time to move from commitments to concrete actions. The selection of the first investment under our joint partnership with Qantas is an example of such action, with the potential to deliver SAF locally in Australia and to be a model for other locations around the world, said Julie Kitcher, Airbus EVP of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.

Could begin construction in 2024

This plant will jumpstart the country’s commitment to clean aviation and ensure the entire process of SAF production takes place within Australia, from feedstock sourcing to fuel production.

Currently, Australia exports large volumes of SAF feedstock to produce biofuels in other countries.

We are excited to have strong investment support and to have executed a Heads of Agreement between Qantas and LanzaJet to complete feasibility studies to build Australia’s first Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) SAF plant. LanzaJet is undoubtedly one of the world leaders in commercializing ATJ SAF technology with mechanical completion on their Freedom Pines Project in Georgia, USA, later this year, and we are excited to work with them to help Australian businesses and government drive real reductions in aviation emissions, said Ed Mason, CEO of JetZero.

According to Jet Zero Australia, the Queensland project is set to be the country’s first SAF plant. Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said this project would be a game-changer for Queensland and the state’s economic future.

With our rich supply of feedstock, Queensland is in a perfect position to capitalize on the global shift to green jet fuels and become the leader of the local SAF industry. It’s exciting to think Queensland could be producing the millions of litres of SAF needed to power flights across Australia and around the globe, creating more regional jobs in the process. This is another signal to the world that Queensland is ready for take-off as a clean energy powerhouse, said Premier Miles.

Construction on the Queensland plant is expected to begin in 2024. Once operational, the plant will produce up to 100 million litres of SAF annually from agricultural by-products such as sugarcane.

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