(TAN): A Queensland biofuel production facility is being developed by Jet Zero Australia in partnership with sustainable aviation fuel technology firm LanzaJet. Here, agricultural by-products, including sugarcane, will be turned into jet fuel, Qantas, an investor in the initiative along with Airbus and the Queensland government, said in a news release.
The Qantas Group and Airbus will jointly invest AUD 2 million (USD 1.33 million) of an initial AUD 6 million capital raising, with the Queensland government contributing AUD 760,000 and other Australian and international institutional funds providing additional funding. The money will be used to conduct a detailed feasibility study and early-stage project development.
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The proposed facility will utilise LanzaJet’s alcohol-to-jet technology to produce up to 100 million litres of SAF per year. Construction is expected to start in 2024. The Qantas Group and Airbus have committed to investing up to USD 200 million to accelerate the establishment of a SAF industry in Australia. The facility is the first project funded under the Qantas and Airbus Australian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership.
Qantas Group Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Parker said, “Qantas will be the largest single customer for Australian-made SAF to meet our emissions reduction targets, which is why we’re investing in the ideas and technology that will build a local SAF industry.”
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Airbus Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Julie Kitcher said that all Airbus aircraft are already capable of flying with a SAF blend of up to 50%. “Ensuring a sustainable future for our industry is a priority for Airbus, working with partners across the world and from all sectors,” Kitcher said.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said this project would be a game-changer for Queensland, and the state’s economic future.
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