Sustainable fuel technology and production company LanzaJet announced today an investment by energy giant Shell, aimed at accelerating the commercialization of LanzaJet’s technology, and scaling the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

LanzaJet was launched by carbon recycling technology company LanzaTech in June 2020 to address sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel needs through the commercialization of alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology.

SAF is seen by market participants as one of the key tools for the aviation industry to address its emissions impact, generating significant CO2 emissions reductions compared to conventional fuels. SAF is generally produced from sustainable resources, like waste oils and agricultural residues, or even from carbon captured from the air, rather than from fossil fuels.

Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet CEO, said:

“We’ve been at a crossroads for years and we’re now at a point in time when real solutions matter to address the global need to get to net-zero. At LanzaJet, we’re in a unique position with technology that is ready and scaling today to produce lower-carbon, sustainable fuels. Shell’s investment and partnership help to further advance our work to do our part to decarbonize aviation globally, a sector with limited other options in the near- and mid-term.”

LanzaJet stated that its process can use any source of sustainable ethanol for jet fuel production, including, but not limited to, ethanol made from recycled pollution. According to the company, its SAF delivers more than a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis, and the technology is uniquely able to produce up to 90% of its fuels as SAF, with the remaining 10% as renewable diesel.

Shell’s investment comes as LanzaJet works to build the first ATJ facility of its kind globally, a 10 million gallon per year commercial-scale plant in Soperton, Georgia, USA. In addition to LanzaTech, Shell joins founding investors Suncor Energy, and Mitsui & Co, and recent investor British Airways. LanzaJet utilizes a phased investment approach, which sees the initial investment followed by a capital call once key demonstration milestones have been met.

Anna Mascolo, President, Shell Aviation, said:

“LanzaJet’s technology opens up a new and exciting pathway to produce SAF using an AtJ process and will help address the aviation sector’s urgent need for SAF. It demonstrates that the industry can move faster and deliver more when we all work together. Provided industry, government and society collaborate on appropriate policy mechanisms and regulations to drive both supply and demand, aviation can achieve net-zero carbon emissions. The strategic fit with LanzaJet is exciting.”