LanzaTech & LanzaJet Introduce CirculAir solution for SAF production

Sustainable fuels major LanzaTech and sister firm LanzaJet are launching CirculAir technology which is a new joint offering to convert waste, carbon, and renewable power into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and immediately accelerate decarbonization of the aviation industry globally.

LanzaJet held that CirculAir is a breakthrough offering that provides an economical and commercialized alternative to Fischer-Tropsch technology to create eFuels, Power-to-Liquids (PtL), and Waste-to-Fuels leveraging the already ASTM-approved SAF production pathway that uses ethanol as the biointermediate and Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology to produce SAF and Renewable Diesel (RD).

LanzaJet said that CirculAir is a formalized joint offering and end-to-end technology solution that turns nearly any waste source including municipal solid waste (MSW), agricultural residues, carbon emissions from industrial and refining processes, carbon dioxide (CO2) through direct air capture, and renewable power into SAF.

CirculAir is first incorporating LanzaTech’s novel gas fermentation technology to convert nearly any waste resource into CarbonSmart ethanol and then second, executing LanzaJet’s Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology by taking the ethanol and converting it to drop-in SAF. The SAF made through this process is expected to reduce aviation emissions by at least 85% and can also produce carbon negative results, depending on the feedstock.

 “CirculAir brings to market a revolutionary, integrated pathway to convert carbon and waste inventories across our global society as well as the ability to utilize emerging renewable power supply and CO2 through direct air capture as an economical and commercially viable approach to creating SAF,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet.

 “Over 100 billion gallons of fossil fuel-derived jet fuel are consumed each year – with our joint technology, we can turn that into 100 billion gallons of reliable jet fuel powered by recycled carbon,” said Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech and Board Chair of LanzaJet. “In joining forces with CirculAir, LanzaTech and LanzaJet are making it clear that versatile, abundant waste carbon can give us what we need to help people travel and eliminate our dependence on fossil resources.”