LanzaJet

Building Europe’s first of its kind Alcohol-to-Jet production plant

Sustainable aviation fuel produced from waste-based ethanol resources

January 7, 2021

The FLITE consortium, led by SkyNRG and with LanzaTech as the technology provider, will build the first-of-its-kind LanzaJet^TM Alcohol to Jet (AtJ) facility. The facility will convert waste-based ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a scale of over 30,000 tons/yr. The project received €20 million in grant funding from the EU H2020 programme and is a major milestone on the path to a net zero emission for the aviation industry.

Sustainable aviation fuel is critical to reduce emissions from the aviation sector in the coming decades. Ambitious targets are proposed as part of the European Green Deal ‘Sustainable and smart mobility’ policy and the new legislative initiative ‘EU ReFuelEU Aviation’. To meet these targets in the years to come, it is essential that we diversify feedstock and technology options for SAF production. This pre-commercial AtJ production plant will pave the way to implementing SAF production across Europe and around the globe, producing commercially relevant quantities of SAF to support future aviation’s climate targets.

The FLITE (Fuel via Low Carbon Integrated Technology from Ethanol) project kick-off was held on December 8^th, 2020. The consortium consists of leaders from their respective industries. SkyNRG, a global market leader for SAF solutions, is acting as the project coordinator and managing downstream supply chain development; carbon recycling company, LanzaTech, will be responsible for plant design, construction and operations using the LanzaJet^TM AtJ technology; Fraunhofer, Europe’s largest applied research organization, will oversee and distribute communications about the project; energy and sustainability strategy consultancy E4tech, will conduct the life cycle assessment; and the world’s most trusted, valued and peer-reviewed standard for the bio-based economy, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), will support the project through guidance on RSB certification of the facility.

Maarten van Dijk, Managing Director SkyNRG: “With the increasing demand for SAF in the future, there is a need to diversify SAF technologies and feedstock. This first of its kind Alcohol-to Jet production in Europe will be an important step in the direction of making sustainable aviation fuel more accessible and scalable, supporting net zero emission ambitions for the aviation industry. SkyNRG is excited to be a part of the FLITE project.”

Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech: “Bending the carbon curve requires collaboration and strong partnerships, something the FLITE Consortium exemplifies! We look forward to implementing LanzaJetTM Alcohol-to-Jet technology in Europe. This is an important enabler to expanding production of sustainable aviation fuel and creating a path to a lower carbon future. We are grateful for the Horizon 2020 funding which has made this project possible.”

Rolf Hogan, Executive Director, RSB: “This project addresses two key challenges faced by the aviation sector today – rapid decarbonisation and doing so in a sustainable manner. It aims to scale the production of SAF in Europe, and ensure it meets the most stringent sustainability standards. The RSB is proud to support partners to demonstrate sustainability performance and meet regional and global regulatory requirements of EU RED and CORSIA.”

Looking to accelerate local economic development in innovation, energy security, and job creation, the FLITE project will produce more than just fuel. The FLITE AtJ facility will be fully operational in 2024, producing SAF using waste-based ethanol sourced from multiple European producers. In addition, it will produce SAF which will result in a significant carbon emission reduction relative to fossil kerosene and will also reduce emissions of particulates matter and sulphur. As such, the SAF will be certified through the robust standards of RSB.

For additional information and questions please contact the Project Coordinator, SkyNRG: mediarelations@skynrg.com

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 857839.

Innovative Sustainable Fuel Technology and Investment Structure to
Accelerate Commercialization, Regional Job Growth, and Carbon reduction
Unless noted otherwise, all funds are in US dollars

Chicago, June 2, 2020

LanzaTech, a leading biotech company and carbon recycler, has successfully launched LanzaJet, Inc., a new company that will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for a sector requiring climate friendly fuel options as it starts to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. With its approach to commercialization of SAF, LanzaJet is creating regional jobs while enabling global decarbonization of the aviation sector.

Canada’s leading integrated energy company, Suncor Energy Inc., and leading Japanese trading and investment company, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui), are investing $15 million and $10 million, respectively, to establish LanzaJet. The funding will be used to build a demonstration plant that will produce 10 million gallons per year of SAF and renewable diesel starting from sustainable ethanol sources. Production is expected to start in early 2022. This initial investment coupled with participation from All Nippon Airways (ANA) will complement the existing $14 million grant from the US Department of Energy, enabling the construction of an integrated biorefinery at LanzaTech’s Freedom Pines site in Soperton, Georgia.

In addition to its equity investment, Suncor has contracted to take a significant portion of the SAF and renewable diesel produced at the facility to provide its jet fuel and distillate customers with sustainable energy solutions.

Importantly, investors Suncor and Mitsui are aiming to invest further in the construction of commercial production facilities after the demonstration meets all its technical and economic targets. This novel phased investment approach will see the initial investment followed by a capital call once all the demonstration milestones have been met. This will significantly accelerate commercial deployment at a time when reducing emissions, especially of aviation, is increasingly important and demonstrates a joint commitment to creating a resilient, climate secure future.

“Suncor is excited to join LanzaTech, Mitsui and ANA in helping LanzaJet take off,” said Mark Little President and CEO of Suncor. “We believe this technology will provide a solid foundation for the commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.  These products are very complementary to our existing product mix and we see growth potential in both North American and international markets.  Suncor is committed to both a low carbon future for our own business and to helping our customers, including in the space of commercial aviation, realize their own vision of a sustainable future.”

“We are pleased to launch LanzaJet along with excellent partners LanzaTech, Suncor and ANA,” Toru Matsui, Managing Officer, COO of Mitsui said. “This partnership demonstrates our continuing commitment to improving the sustainability of the aviation industry and supports our ambition to be the first in Japan to produce SAF on a commercial scale. The SAF produced by LanzaJet will support the development of a global SAF supply chain, which has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from aviation and help to create a low carbon society.”

“ANA is thrilled to work alongside LanzaTech, Mitsui and Suncor on this new venture,” said Akihiko Miura, Executive Vice President of ANA. “We believe that this partnership is a great step forward for carbon-neutral growth initiatives. ANA is happy to share in this innovative endeavor and to be a part of a carbon-free future in the aviation industry.”

Industry leader, Jimmy Samartzis, has joined as CEO, bringing a background in clean energy, public policy, infrastructure and sustainability, as well as a decade at United Airlines including multiple executive roles in operations, commercial, corporate affairs, strategy, renewables, and safety. Currently serving as a Director on the Board for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, he has held various industry roles, including with Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association, and advised the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“The launch of LanzaJet marks an historic milestone in the clean energy transition that is underway globally. I’ve been part of many renewable energy and sustainability firsts over the last decade, and this one is the most exciting,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet. “The commercialization of LanzaJet – built on the shoulders of LanzaTech, Suncor, Mitsui, ANA and with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy – gives our world, and aviation in particular, an important solution in shaping a cleaner future.”

The LanzaJet process can use any source of sustainable ethanol for jet fuel production, including, but not limited to, ethanol made from recycled pollution, the core application of LanzaTech’s carbon recycling platform. Commercialization of this process, called Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) has been years in the making, starting with the partnership between LanzaTech and the U.S Energy Department’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL developed a unique catalytic process to upgrade ethanol to alcohol-to-jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK) which LanzaTech took from the laboratory to pilot scale.

“Achieving our global climate goals requires scaling new, transformative technologies rapidly. This requires new methods of financing that enable scaling from lab to pilot to demo to commercial without stopping after each step to raise more cash,” said Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech. “Suncor, Mitsui and ANA are stepping up to show that achieving meaningful scale will require new technologies, new business models and new approaches. I am delighted to see LanzaJet take off and to see Jimmy Samartzis lead the team as it brings this sustainable solution to market.”

Carbon recycling pioneer, LanzaTech, continues to make strides in scaling up its alcohol to jet (ATJ) platform. Commercialization of the ATJ process has been years in the making, starting with the partnership between LanzaTech and the U.S Energy Department’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL developed a unique catalytic process to upgrade ethanol to alcohol-to-jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK) which LanzaTech took from the laboratory to pilot scale.

After scale up, ethanol being added as an approved feedstock in ASTM D7566 Annex A5, the Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons for alcohol-to-jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK), and the first commercial flight with Virgin Atlantic, sustainable aviation fuel made from captured pollution is ready for full scale demonstration and commercialization.

Michael Berube, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation at the United States Department of Energy, announced the DOE is in the negotiation stage with LanzaTech for a $14 million investment in a demonstration-scale integrated biorefinery at LanzaTech’s Freedom Pines site in Soperton, Georgia. The announcement was made at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLCNext 2019) in San Francisco, California.
“LanzaTech still has some remaining work to do under the initial award, and we have some negotiations to complete. But we’re very excited about the prospects of this project and what it could mean for demonstrating the viability of drop-in biofuels in the United States,” said Berube.
This investment follows the FY2015 Project Development for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower FOA, under which LanzaTech’s proposal was selected for a feasibility study to plan and design an integrated biorefinery that will produce low-carbon jet and diesel fuels.

LanzaTech’s process can use any source of sustainable ethanol for jet fuel production, including ethanol made from recycled pollution. LanzaTech’s first commercial plant in China has produced over 10M gallons of ethanol from recycled steel mill emissions to date.

The flexibility of the technology to utilize a variety of local waste feedstocks attracted the attention of All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest 5-Star airline for seven consecutive years, resulting in an offtake agreement with LanzaTech signed earlier this year, allowing ANA to purchase sustainable aviation fuel from LanzaTech’s process.

Following on from this agreement, ANA, strategic investor in LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co., and JXTG Energy have been selected by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) – a prominent Japanese public research and development body – to conduct a feasibility study on scaling the LanzaTech ATJ platform in Japan. Together the partners will establish a sustainable domestic supply chain for ATJ, key to achieving full commercial deployment in Japan.

ANA and Mitsui & Co. kicked off the project by conducting a Boeing 777-300ER delivery flight using sustainable aviation fuel made from recycled carbon on October 30, 2019. As the fuel producer, LanzaTech worked closely with all partners, advising how best to transport and blend the fuel for loading on the aircraft.

“Sustainable aviation fuel reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% and is a key element of the industry’s climate action strategy,” said Sheila Remes, vice president of strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “ANA’s flight demonstrated once again that sustainable fuel blends perfectly with conventional fuel without the need for any changes to the airplane, engines or airport fueling infrastructure.”

“We are very excited to continue our efforts to establish higher standards for eco-friendly travel alongside NEDO, Mitsui & Co. and JXTG,” said Yutaka Ito, Executive Vice President of ANA. “This project closely aligns with our vision of a world where companies proactively respond to calls for environmentally-friendly leadership and this is just one of many steps ANA is taking to meet the ambitious sustainable development goals that we have set.”

“Commercial volumes of sustainable aviation fuel are desperately needed,” said LanzaTech CEO, Dr. Jennifer Holmgren. “The aviation sector is working hard to decarbonize and there are more options on the table than ever before. We are excited to play our part by accelerating scaling ATJ!”

LanzaTech’s carbon capture platform for SAF is now poised for scale up in the United States and Japan. In the UK, LanzaTech is a shortlisted applicant for a grant from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) through the Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition (F4C). This grant would support deployment of the technology in the UK, and LanzaTech has been working closely with the DfT as they assess the technology and its sustainability profile.

With 3 potential scale up projects around the world, LanzaTech is supporting global production of SAF, with associated regional job creation, enabling global access to new sustainable fuels for the aviation sector as it seeks to decarbonize.

• Next generation sustainable fuel made by recycling waste carbon gases – used in a commercial flight for the first time
• Significant progress made including support from US and UK governments, bringing this technology tantalisingly close to securing commercial scale plants
• Virgin Atlantic CEO now calling for urgent UK government commitment to bring this breakthrough technology to Britain
• Opportunity to produce up to 125million gallons of jet fuel per year in UK, to fuel 100% of Virgin Atlantic flights departing Britain, providing nearly 1 million tonnes of CO₂ savings

Today the aviation industry took a landmark step towards making commercially-viable sustainable aviation fuel a reality – thanks to a world first flight by Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech, supported by long-term partner Boeing.[1]

The first batch of LanzaTech jet fuel was used on a commercial flight for the very first time – Virgin Atlantic’s VS16 flight from Orlando to London Gatwick, operated by a Boeing 747 aircraft. Passengers on the historic flight were welcomed by a familiar face on arrival as the airline’s founder Sir Richard Branson marshalled the aircraft into stand. This flight follows hot on the heels of a £410K UK government Future Fuels for Flight and Freight grant to determine the feasibility of building a 40-50million US gallon jet fuel plant in Britain.

LanzaTech produces next generation ‘advanced’ fuels by recycling waste industrial gases like those produced from steel making and other heavy industrial processes. LanzaTech takes these waste, carbon-rich gases to first make ethanol. The ethanol can be used for a range of low carbon products, including jet fuel. The innovative alcohol-to-jet process used to make the fuel in this flight was developed in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Lab and the US Department of Energy.

Today Virgin Atlantic is calling on the UK government to commit to making this fuel a commercial reality in the UK.  Allowing access for new carbon capture and utilisation technologies like LanzaTech’s to incentives already given to earlier generations of ‘biofuels’ and providing critical investor support will enable first plants to be swiftly built.

Without these key next steps this opportunity will no doubt be picked up elsewhere. But with them, LanzaTech says it could have three UK plants running by 2025, producing up to 125 million gallons of sustainable fuel per year – enough to fly all Virgin Atlantic’s UK outbound flights (as a 50:50 mix) while bringing multiple benefits to the UK. These include: saving nearly 1 million tonnes of life-cycle carbon in a hard-to-decarbonise sector; and supporting a burgeoning bio-economy sector, thousands of clean growth jobs across the supply chain, enhanced fuel security, and providing important trade import and export potential – all benefits the UK desperately needs as we face a post-Brexit Britain.

Further, the LanzaTech approach has huge scale-up potential. If the technology were rolled out worldwide to the world’s eligible steel mills (65% of all), this alone could produce enough fuel to meet around 20% of the current commercial global aviation fuel demand. In addition the technology can be used to efficiently convert other plentiful wastes such as, gases from oil refineries and residues from agricultural processes. The fuel has a fantastic sustainability profile with at least 70% life cycle carbon savings as well as no land, food or water competition issues and gold-standard sustainability certification. Crucially, because it’s made from plentiful, affordable waste-streams, the fuel has a fighting chance at coming in at a price on a par with current fossil fuel prices – a truly groundbreaking move that would enable airlines like Virgin Atlantic to achieve the big carbon savings needed.

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group commented:

“Long haul travel is more important than ever for connecting people around the world and it’s our responsibility to ensure we’re doing that in the most sustainable way possible. Working with LanzaTech will enable us to greatly reduce our carbon emissions and at the same time, help support UK industry. That’s why we’re excited to showcase this fuel on its first commercial flight as we plan for the world’s first full scale jet fuel plant using this amazing new technology. The LanzaTech process is important because this fuel takes waste, carbon-rich gases from industrial factories and gives them a second life – so that new fossil fuels don’t have to be taken out of the ground. This flight is a huge step forward in making this new technology a mainstream reality.”

Craig Kreeger, CEO at Virgin Atlantic commented:

“At Virgin Atlantic, we’ve always been committed to reducing our environmental impact and LanzaTech will play a big part in that ambition. Alongside flying more efficient aircraft, sustainable jet fuel is critical to reducing our carbon footprint in the future. We’re excited to host this landmark event and are now calling on the UK government to commit to the critical next steps to help bring this next generation sustainable fuel to the UK.”

Jennifer Holmgren, CEO at LanzaTech commented:

“Today, with our carbon smart partner, Virgin Atlantic, we have shown that recycling waste carbon emissions into jet fuel is not impossible, that waste carbon needs to be thought as an opportunity not a liability, that carbon can be reused over and over again.  We thank all our partners and governments on both sides of the Atlantic for their support.  Together we can create the carbon future we need.”

Energy and Clean Growth Minister, Claire Perry said:

“Congratulations to Virgin on this brilliant project, applying innovative solutions like this to real-world climate change challenges will help us transition to a greener, cleaner economy.

“As part of our modern Industrial Strategy we’re backing this kind of outside-the-box thinking by investing £100 million in low carbon industrial innovation to ensure we modernise our industries and accelerate the shift to low carbon transport.”

Sheila Remes, Vice President of Strategy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes commented:

“We’re proud to see our longstanding collaboration with LanzaTech and Virgin Atlantic reach this momentous milestone. Not only does this project demonstrate how air transport can grow sustainably, it sets the stage for expanding commercial availability of new sustainable aviation fuels.”

Ends

For more information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office on +441293 747373 or email press.office@fly.virgin.com

Notes to editors

LanzaTech’s innovative approach captures and recycles carbon-rich waste industrial gases to create ethanol, which can then be used for a variety of purposes, including as jet fuel. Using a plentiful affordable waste stream has a strong sustainability profile and also allows a comparable price point to current fossil jet fuel. LanzaTech has made significant advances in scaling up its technology and is now tantalisingly close to its first commercial plant.  In order to bring this technology to the UK, Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech are calling on the UK government to give it a fighting chance. Through inclusion in low carbon fuel incentives and investment support for its first UK plant, LanzaTech and Virgin Atlantic predict they could save up to 1million tonnes of carbon annually by 2025, whilst also supporting UK industry and achieving a range of other benefits.

Earlier in 2018, LanzaTech fuel was qualified as an alcohol to jet aviation fuel by the ASTM International committee for up to a 50:50 mix with fossil jet. This means it has undergone extensive testing and review by all aircraft manufacturers and other specialists, and performs as well as or better than 100% traditional fossil jet on the full range of performance and safety metrics.

Rolf Hogan, Executive Director, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

“Watching the sustainable bioeconomy quite literally take off, in the shape of this flight from Orlando to London, is a major boost for the organisations worldwide that are working so hard to develop the new technologies which will change our world. Lanzatech’s commitment to building a low carbon future serves as a model for all parts of the bioeconomy. As a community, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials is thrilled to see two of its members, LanzaTech and Virgin Atlantic, see their many years of hard work in developing this technology reach a commercial scale.  We are also proud to provide ongoing support to LanzaTech’s ground-breaking Alcohol to Jet (ATJ) initiative as a sustainability partner, ensuring that environmental and social sustainability are built into the foundations of this innovative project.”

Kai Sorenson, Director of Commercial Sales for EPIC Fuels

“As a fuel provider, EPIC Fuels recognizes the need to find alternatives to petroleum-only based jet fuel,” said Kai Sorenson, Director of Commercial Sales for EPIC Fuels. “We’ve participated in multiple demonstration flights to identify and fast track technologies that can improve the environmental performance of aviation and gained unmatched experience with blending fuels. We are looking forward to playing a key role more programs in the future to help the aviation industry address a critical need in securing alternative fuels.”

[1] Fuel logistics were co-ordinated by EPIC Fuels, in association with Virgin Atlantic fuel partners Vitol and Menzies. EPIC Fuels has significant experience in blending, handling and loading sustainable aviation fuels to ensure these processes meet or exceed industry standards.

ASTM Completes Revision of Standard Specification

On April 1, ASTM International added ethanol as an approved feedstock in ASTM D7566 Annex A5, the Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons for alcohol-to-jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK). Jet fuel produced from ethanol by LanzaTech in accordance with the Annex A5 ATJ-SPK criteria completed all required aircraft and engine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) testing and review. Following a review by the OEMs and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the ethanol-derived ATJ-SPK was fit for purpose for use on aircraft and engines, an ASTM Subcommittee D02.J on Aviation Fuel ballot was submitted to the ASTM membership for review (the “D02.J Ballot”). The D02.J Ballot passed all levels of ASTM technical scrutiny: ASTM D02.J subcommittee (November 8, 2017), ASTM D02 Main committee on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants (March 18, 2018) and ASTM General Society Review (April 1, 2018). The fit for purpose determination was based on a Research Report led by LanzaTech and submitted to ASTM which contained detailed data measured on ethanol based ATJ produced using the technology originally developed by the Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) and scaled up by LanzaTech. The Research Report demonstrated that the LanzaTech-PNNL ATJ-SPK meets all fit-for-purpose properties required by ASTM D4054, the Standard Practice for Qualification and Approval of New Aviation Turbine Fuels and Fuel Additives, including when blended at the 50% level with conventional jet.

The revision of ASTM D7566 Annex A5 to increase the blend ratio of ATJ-SPK to 50% was also completed on April 1. 

As a result, ASTM International will publish the revision of ASTM D7566 on its website (http://www.astm.org) in the coming months. LanzaTech’s ethanol based ATJ-SPK will be eligible for use as a blending component with standard Jet A/Jet A1 for commercial airline use in the United States and in most countries around the globe. Under the revised ASTM D7566 LanzaTech ATJ-SPK will be eligible to be used up to a 50% blend in conventional jet fuel for commercial flights.

Earlier this year, LanzaTech and PNNL passed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contracted independent engineering validation for both gas to ethanol and ethanol to jet technologies, as part of a low carbon jet and diesel design and engineering project co-funded by the DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office under the Project Development for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biopower (PD2B3) program. LanzaTech is now preparing a design and engineering package for an ATJ production facility implementing the LanzaTech-PNNL ethanol based ATJ-SPK pathway now accepted under ASTM D7566. The design will be for a facility that can produce 3 million gallons per year of ATJ blendstock and diesel using sustainable ethanol feedstocks from LanzaTech’s gas fermentation, which uses feedstocks such as industrial off gas, biomass wastes and residues, and unsorted, unrecyclable municipal solid waste, as well as ethanol from other sustainable sources. Because ethanol based ATJ-SPK can use ethanol produced from any feedstock, using any conversion technology, approval of ethanol in ASTM D7566 Annex A5, means that sustainable aviation fuel can be produced anywhere around the globe, from available environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable feedstocks in each region.