LanzaJet produces SAF from ethanol at commercial scale; calls it world’s first

Green fuel conglomerate LanzaJet announced that it has fully operated and produced fuels at its LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Soperton, Georgia,– calling it both the world’s first production of jet fuel using ethanol as a feedstock at a commercial-scale plant. LanzaJet also termed it first non-oil-based renewable solution compatible with today’s aircraft.

LanzaJet calls the achievement as the culmination of 15 years of research and development, collaboration, investment, and scale-up, and represents a critical breakthrough for the aviation industry with evidence that ethanol can be transformed into jet fuel at commercial scale. Located in Treutlen County in Soperton and less than 100 miles from Savannah, LanzaJet invested over $300M to develop this facility.

Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, stated, “This is an important milestone for LanzaJet and our investors, and it’s a major win for global aviation – perhaps serving as a beacon of hope for the future. Our story at LanzaJet is one of impact – building a new industry, creating value, and delivering on our commitments regardless of obstacles in our way. We’re now in a unique position with technology and operational know-how to shape this global industry in the decade ahead.”

One of the most promising technologies in nearly a decade to reach commercial readiness, LanzaJet’s ATJ technology offers a scalable solution to decarbonize aviation, leveraging the world’s widely available ethanol feedstocks and the substantial additional production of ethanol possible from waste sources and recycled carbon. It provides the opportunity for countries to reinforce and expand their agriculture sectors by accessing this new market, enables economic development, and enhances domestic energy security.

LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels serves as a blueprint for future SAF production, creating a new pathway for global deployment and commercialization of the company’s ATJ technology. LanzaJet successfully troubleshot and brought into operation a fully integrated First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) plant and technology solution. Included in LanzaJet’s plant are also FOAK technologies – Technip Energies’ Hummingbird® technology – an Ethanol-to-Ethylene solution, and Oligomerization jointly developed by the US Department of Energy and LanzaTech.

LanzaJet mentioned that its ATJ technology is designed to work with a broad range of sustainable feedstocks – including agricultural residues, energy crops, municipal solid waste, and captured carbon – to deliver significant lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions compared to conventional jet fuel. Once blended with Jet A-1 fuel, the result is a fully certified solution compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure.