HAMR Energy closes $10m Series A

Australian low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLF) company HAMR Energy announced the successful close of A$10m Series A funding round with investment from Airbus, Qantas and thyssenkrupp Uhde.

“This funding round is a pivotal moment for HAMR Energy and for Australia’s clean energy future. With the backing of world-class partners, we are advancing projects to deliver the lowest-cost, lowest-carbon fuels to decarbonise aviation and shipping at scale,” said David Stribley, co-founder of HAMR Energy.

Beyond the investment from these aviation and industrial firms, HAMR also announced that Honeywell will provide its UOP eFining process technology and expertise to enable renewable fuel production from methanol.

“Our agreement with HAMR Energy marks the first commercial license in the Pacific region for SAF production using Honeywell’s eFining process technology,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP.

HAMR Energy’s flagship project, Portland Renewable Fuels, in regional Victoria will use residues from the local plantation forestry industry to produce 300,000 tonnes per annum of low carbon methanol.

This methanol can be used directly to be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or marine fuel.

In addition to PRF, HAMR is also developing Australia’s first major methanol-to-jet fuel facility which will have the capacity to convert methanol into more than 135m litres of SAF annually.

The company has entered long-term supply agreements with partners including sustainable plantation forestry company OneFortyOne.

The investment from Qantas and Airbus will be taken from their joint Australian Sustainable Aviation Fuel investment fund and existing investors have recommitted.