The world’s first ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturing facility, LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels, was officially opened on the 24th January 2024 by government officials, business leaders, partners, and supporters. LanzaJet is a leading sustainable fuels technology company and manufacturer of sustainable fuels.
It is recognised that LanzaJet’s technology established the first pipeline and process for producing Sustainable Aviation fuel (SAF) from ethanol. With its ethanol-based feedstock, emerging commercial waste-based feedstock solutions, and promising economic conditions, this technology is the first viable next-generation SAF technology in the world, capable of scaling production to the levels required to decarbonise aviation.
As one of the most promising SAF technologies to reach commercial readiness in almost ten years, LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels, located in Soperton, Georgia, will produce 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel every year from low-carbon, sustainable, and certified ethanol that adheres to international and domestic standards. The White House’s SAF Grand Challenge, which asks for a supply of at least 3 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2030 to tangibly cut aviation emissions, is supported by LanzaJet’s technology, which allows present and future supply volume. LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels provides an example of applying revolutionary innovation to scale SAF production and address the escalating climate crisis with its patented ethanol to SAF technology.
The LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels facility, which was established in 2010 as the first ethanol to SAF technology to be developed in partnership with the Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), is the culmination of a long history of firsts within the SAF industry. Virgin Atlantic and All Nippon Airways (ANA) performed the technology’s first commercial flights in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
“Today is testament to the conviction required by industry, government, and funders to advance innovation and stretch the boundaries of what is achievable to address decarbonization and tackle climate change. This is a historic milestone in a long history of firsts for LanzaJet, the United States, and the SAF industry globally. Our novel LanzaJet ethanol to SAF process technology is now deployed at our commercial plant in Georgia which will convert ethanol into drop-in SAF. As we start-up the plant, we will continue to refine our technology, while launching our efforts to advance new sustainable fuels projects globally. Between feedstock versatility, efficiency, and economics that enable scale in the US and globally, we stand ready to meet aviation’s decarbonization goals established at the United Nations and country ambitions, such as the U.S. SAF Grand Challenge.”
Jimmy Samartzis, CEO at LanzaJet.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, Treutlen County Commissioner Phil Jennings, Soperton Mayor John Koon, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack all joined LanzaJet at the celebration on Wednesday.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to harnessing the full potential of SAF as we continue to build a strong economy that is sustainable, resilient, competitive, and keeps rural places thriving. As we transition to SAF, this will not only create new climate smart commodity markets for American producers, but it will also help American companies such as LanzaJet corner the market of a valuable, emerging industry, while revitalizing rural communities like Soperton with agriculture front and center in the effort. LanzaJet’s facility will help accelerate the SAF industry and provide new economic opportunities for producers for a more sustainable future.”
Tom Vilsack, US Agriculture Secretary.
In addition, investors like the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Breakthrough Energy, British Airways, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) as well as LanzaJet shareholders International Airlines Group (IAG), LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co, Shell, and Suncor Energy attended the opening of Freedom Pines Fuels.
“LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels is proof of the energy transition accelerating in real time. We are demonstrating the ability to establish secure supply chains domestically, create new jobs locally, and produce sustainable aviation fuel globally. This historic facility is an important pillar of a growing SAF economy in the United States and is a significant decarbonization milestone in the world.”
Jennifer Holmgren, Board Director and Chief Executive of LanzaTech.
The Georgia-based LanzaJet SAF will be used as drop-in fuel for operational aircraft. The aviation sector accounts for two to three per cent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The technology at LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels is made from a range of sustainable feedstocks, including carbon collected from industrial processes, energy crops, municipal solid waste, and agricultural waste. It has been predicted that the fuel will lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70%.
All fuel generated over the next ten years will have committed offtake agreements from fully funded LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels. The facility, which is less than 100 miles from Savannah in Treutlen County in Georgia, is expected to generate over 250 jobs in total and bring in an estimated $70 million annually for the local economy.
If you are interested in meeting with pioneers working for aviation sustainability, contact us today to learn about our MTB Aviation events.
