The United States now operates its first ethanol-to-aviation fuel plant, benefiting corn farmers and biofuel manufacturers in combating carbon emissions.
LanzaJet unveils $200 million Georgia facility with investors like Suncor Energy and British Airways, attended by U.S. Secretary Tom Vilsack.
This government-backed plant uses U.S.-grown corn and advanced technology for aviation fuel production.
LanzaJet’s CEO, Jimmy Samartzis, highlights a breakthrough, aiming for 10 million gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel annually.
President Joe Biden aims for an annual SAF production of at least 3 billion gallons by 2030.
IAG invested in LanzaJet in 2021 with plans to introduce the technology in the United Kingdom. The British government aims to construct five biofuel plants for aircraft by 2025.
This development emphasizes the transformative impact of government support and investment in sustainable aviation technologies, as stated by IAG CEO Luis Gallego.
However, concerns have arisen among Iowa stakeholders, fearing that the state’s corn farmers and ethanol producers may miss out on the growing SAF market.
Iowa’s ethanol plants fall short of strict low carbon intensity criteria for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production, per industry boards.
In contrast, Brazil’s 7+ billion gallons of sugarcane ethanol likely meet SAF production criteria with low carbon emissions.
This development is significant, representing a major step towards cleaner aviation fuel, carbon emissions reduction, and economic opportunities for the U.S. and the UK.
In short, it reinforces the need for innovation and collaboration in the renewable energy sector.