Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund invests in LanzaJet to scale SAF

LanzaJet, a frontrunner in sustainable fuel technology, has secured additional funding from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund to bolster the company’s efforts to globally deploy its technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.

“Our continued alignment with Microsoft allows LanzaJet to build our team and capability at pace to support global deployment of our leading sustainable fuels process technology,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO, LanzaJet.

“Through its support of LanzaJet’s first-of-a-kind ethanol to SAF biorefinery, LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels, Microsoft has played a significant role in making SAF production a reality in the United States, and this investment reemphasises its urgent commitment to decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors.”

The funding follows Microsoft’s previous $50m contribution in 2022, which aided construction of LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels – the world’s first ethanol-to-SAF facility. Opened in January 2024, the Georgia plant is poised to generate 10m gallons of SAF and renewable diesel annually starting this quarter.

This investment grants Microsoft access to SAF, renewable diesel, and future SAF certificates from LanzaJet projects, aiding their goal of achieving carbon negativity by 2030.

“Microsoft is proud to support LanzaJet with our investment in the growth of its sustainable fuel technology business,” said Brandon Middaugh, senior director, Climate Innovation Fund, Microsoft. “Microsoft is investing in partners who share our commitment to advancing a net-zero economy and who are building the market for critical solutions like SAF and renewable diesel.”

LanzaJet’s investor portfolio boasts a lineup of sustainability-focused giants, including All Nippon Airways, Breakthrough Energy, British Airways, LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co., Shell, Southwest Airlines, and Suncor Energy, alongside Microsoft.