Avina Unveils Plans for Cutting-Edge Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in the Midwest, Forges Alliance for Low-Carbon Ethanol Supply

(Avina/Globe Newswire) Avina, a leading developer of clean hydrogen and derivative fuels solutions, is thrilled to announce plans for a cutting-edge Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant in the Midwest region set to commence operations in 2027.

The facility, engineered to produce 120 million gallons of SAF annually, will utilize alcohol-to-jet production technology pathway. The SAF produced will have significantly reduced life cycle carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. The end product will be certified to meet ASTM D7566 standards. Preliminary Front End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) for the project is complete and FEED is expected to kick off in Q2 2024. Funding commitments for the project through FID have been secured, and Avina is currently engaged in advanced discussions with various strategic and financial investors to fund the project at FID.

Avina is also pleased to announce that it has entered into long-term supply agreements with leading ethanol suppliers for a significant portion of the low carbon intensity (CI) ethanol feedstock volume requirement, a major milestone in moving the project forward. Substantial volumes of ethanol will be supplied by facilities with operational carbon capture and sequestration. Leveraging this low carbon intensity ethanol feedstock, the project is estimated to avoid around 840,000 metric tons of aviation-related carbon emissions annually. The project will leverage existing rail and pipeline infrastructure to ensure optimal delivery of end product into the Chicago O’Hare and other regional airports.

The US airline industry is experiencing a notable demand for SAF in response to commitments to utilize three billion gallons of SAF by 2030. Avina is proactively collaborating with airline customers and other stakeholders to play a key role in meeting this target. "The strategic location, scale, and cost-effectiveness offer a significant advantage for our SAF project," says Vishal Shah, CEO & Founder at Avina Clean Hydrogen. “Aviation sector accounts for 2% of global CO2 emissions. In recent years, emissions from this sector have been increasing at a faster rate compared to those from rail, road, or shipping. Sustainable Aviation Fuels are critical to decarbonizing the aviation sector and the Ethanol-to-Jet production pathway is the most immediate, cost-effective, and scalable option for aviation decarbonization. With the procurement of low CI ethanol from existing production facilities that have CO2 capture and sequestration, we are excited about the project's potential to drive aviation industry’s decarbonization efforts forward.”

About Avina Clean Hydrogen:
Avina Clean Hydrogen is a leading provider of hydrogen and derivative fuel solutions, dedicated to advancing the development and adoption of clean fuels for a sustainable future. The company focuses on research, development, and deployment of clean solutions across various industries, including transportation, energy, and manufacturing. Avina Clean Hydrogen is committed to driving innovation and collaboration to address the challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability. READ MORE

Excerpt from KBR: KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc. has selected the sustainable aviation fuel technology, PureSAF℠, for its project in the US. Developed by Swedish Biofuels, PureSAF technology is exclusively licensed by KBR worldwide.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide the technology licensing, proprietary engineering design, and front-end engineering design (FEED) for Avina's facility to produce 120 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year.

"PureSAF is an innovative, advanced technology that produces jet fuel that is fully fungible with conventional jet fuel, from a variety of feedstocks at low cost and on an industrial scale," said Angelica Hull, Managing Director of Swedish Biofuels. "In addition to processing ethanol, our technology can also convert mixed alcohols, carbon dioxide, and synthesis gas to SAF, creating pathways for utilizing captured carbon for a cleaner, more sustainable future."

"We are excited to expand our collaboration with Avina as it ventures into the SAF market," said Jay Ibrahim, KBR President, Sustainable Technology Solutions. "In 2023, KBR's K-GreeN® technology was selected by Avina for its green ammonia project in the US. Avina's leadership in energy transition projects aligns with KBR's commitment to implementing decarbonization technologies to advance ESG objectives. Along with Swedish Biofuels, we look forward to helping Avina diversify into other high-potential sustainable growth sectors."

"We are delighted to select the innovative aviation fuel technology offered by KBR for our ethanol-to-sustainable jet fuel project in Illinois," said Vishal Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Avina Clean Hydrogen. "PureSAF's project-economic advantages, low carbon intensity, and environmental benefits make it an ideal choice compared to other technologies."

KBR remains at the forefront of pioneering decarbonization initiatives, through continuous process innovation and harnessing low-carbon technologies to reduce emissions effectively. In 2024, KBR is celebrating 100 years of offering clean fuel solutions.

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 30 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.