Sustainable Aviation Fuel Readies to Take Flight in Australia

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March 31, 2023

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(LanzaJet) Jet Zero Australia Partners with LanzaJet to Deploy its Leading Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) Technology with Funding and Support by Qantas Group, Airbus, and Queensland Government to Progress Towards Australia’s First ATJ Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Plant

LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, today announced it is collaborating with Jet Zero Australia to start project development to progress towards the deployment of its leading LanzaJet Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology for a sustainable aviation fuel production plant in Queensland. The plant, which could be Australia’s first ATJ sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility, is supported by the Queensland Government, Qantas, and Airbus as part of the Australian SAF Partnership.

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% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with Australia being the second-biggest emitter of carbon per capita on domestic air travel. LanzaJet’s leading and proprietary 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. “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.”

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% 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 and expects to add San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2025.

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

As part of their US$200 million investment in Australian SAF development, Qantas Group and aerospace giant Airbus will jointly invest a total of AUD$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 AUD$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,” said Julie Kitcher, Airbus Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. “There is a 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.”

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.

Ed Mason, CEO of JetZero stated, “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 undoubtably one of the world leaders in commercialising 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.”

The Queensland project is projected to be the country’s first sustainable aviation fuels 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 the perfect position to capitalise on the global shift to green jet fuels and become the leader of a local SAF industry,” Mr. Miles said. “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.”

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.

ABOUT LANZAJET

LanzaJet is a leading sustainable fuels technology company dedicated to accelerating the energy transition by embracing the circular economy. As a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer with patented alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology, LanzaJet is creating an opportunity for future generations by accelerating the deployment of SAF and other clean technologies critical to addressing the climate crisis and transforming the global economy. Further information is available at https://www.lanzajet.com/

ABOUT QANTAS GROUP

Qantas was founded in regional Queensland in 1920 and has been serving communities for more than 100 years. The Qantas Group has grown into a diverse global aviation business with more than 300 aircraft in its fleet. The Qantas Group was the second airline in the world to commit to net zero emissions by 2050, and through its Climate Action Plan, has also set ambitious interim 2030 targets for sustainable aviation fuel, carbon emissions, fuel efficiency and waste reduction.

ABOUT AIRBUS

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

ABOUT JET ZERO AUSTRALIA

Jet Zero Australia is a leading-edge Australian bioenergy company established to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and driven by our determination to build a better Australia today. Our vision is to be at the forefront of the emission reduction revolution, with plans progressing to develop Australia’s first Alcohol to Jet Fuel (ATJ) facility, taking surplus ethanol production from agricultural and sugarcane byproducts, and converting it to SAF via a plant to be built in Queensland. Discover more at https://www.jetzero.com.au READ MORE

Qantas, Airbus to invest $1.3 mln in Australian biofuel refinery (Alarabiya News)

Emission Control: Queensland biofuel refinery to turn agricultural byproducts into sustainable aviation fuel (Stockhead)

Jet planes and sugar cane: Qantas and Airbus get on board biofuel factory in Queensland: Aviation giants look to agricultural waste in bid to cut emissions but experts say it is no panacea (The Guardian)

Qantas to invest in Queensland biofuel refinery (Geelong Advertiser; includes VIDEO)

QUEENSLAND BIOFUEL REFINERY TO TURN AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTS INTO SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (The National Tribune)

Qantas, Airbus to invest in Australian biofuel refinery (Reuters/KFGO)

LanzaJet to build alcohol-to-jet SAF plant in Queensland, Australia (Biobased Diesel Daily)

Qantas, Airbus to invest in Australian biofuel refinery (Reuters)

Excerpt from The Guardian: In Australia, Jet Zero is focusing on agricultural byproducts from the sugar cane industry in north Queensland, with plans to build its facility in the region and rely on nearby port access.

Initially Jet Zero Australia will also use wheat starch byproducts from New South Wales, however sugar cane has the greatest potential, according to managing director Ed Mason.

Mason says that while SAF sources being developed in other countries rely on converting cooking oils, palm oil and animal fats, Jet Zero Australia would focus on agricultural byproducts.

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Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet’s chief executive, said that tests the company had done with agricultural byproducts in Canada saw a “significant reduction” in contrails, or vapour trails, which form when water vapour and soot particles form into ice crystals.

Research has suggested contrails have an even greater impact on global heating than carbon emissions from jet engines.

“This is a first but significant step towards turning agricultural and sugar cane byproducts into aviation fuel to power flights around Australia,” said Andrew Parker, Qantas’s chief sustainability officer.

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In January, Queensland researchers said they had made a breakthrough that allows them to quickly convert sugar cane into a renewable chemical that could be used for sustainable aviation fuel. READ MORE