LanzaJet, Jet Zero Australia to develop ethanol-to-SAF plant

Jet Zero Australia announced that it has signed a licence and engineering agreement with LanzaJet to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from bioethanol in North Queensland.

“We are extremely excited to have executed these two key agreements with LanzaJet. Not only do they allow the project to move forward to Final Investment Decision, but more importantly they cement a long-standing relationship with a key partner to the project,” said Ed Mason, CEO, Jet Zero.

Project Ulysses, first ethanol to SAF plant in the country, will produce 102m litres of SAF per annum equivalent to meet annual jet fuel demands for Cairns and Townsville Airports.

Airbus and Qantas Airways have also joined the project as investors and partners.

The SAF will help Australian Government’s commitment to achieving its emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water forecasts the transport sector to be the country’s largest source of emissions by 2030.

Queensland’s Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace, said it was exciting to see the project move ahead after the Queensland Government provided $760,000 towards a project feasibility study.

“At LanzaJet, we believe in building industry, protecting our climate, and enabling energy and national security – and our work in Australia delivers that ambition. Doing leading edge work requires partnership, and we’re proud to join Jet Zero Australia, the Queensland Government, Airbus, and Qantas to position Australia as a leader in the region on SAFs with direct impact in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enabling job creation, and preserving Australia’s environment for generations to come,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO, LanzaJet.