LanzaJet marks milestone at new SAF production plant

LanzaJet has celebrated a major construction milestone at its Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Soperton, Georgia.
The facility is the world’s first ethanol-based alcohol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant. Construction will be completed in 2023 with commission and startup beginning next year.
The plant will produce 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel per year from ethanol, using a range of sustainable, low carbon intensity ethanol, including from waste-based feedstocks. LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels will approximately double the amount of current SAF production in the US.
“Building a new industry and scaling new technology is exciting while at the same time challenging. We’ve enjoyed the privilege of partnering with incredible public and private sector leaders to support our work on this journey,” said Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet CEO. “Today, we celebrate the power of partnership to tackle climate change – the greatest challenge of our generation. Fabrication and construction of our novel process technology that converts ethanol into drop-in, replacement sustainable aviation fuel is completed, and installation has begun at site. This is a significant milestone on our journey and also for the development of the SAF industry.”
LanzaJet was joined at the event by its shareholders International Airlines Group (IAG), LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co, Shell, and Suncor Energy, investors including Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Breakthrough Energy, and All Nippon Airways (ANA), and government representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US Department of Energy (DOE), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as representatives from the State of Georgia and local and county officials.
“I’m excited to see LanzaJet continue to soar ahead as they develop sustainable aviation fuel,” said Senator Rev Raphael Warnock. “I was proud that the Inflation Reduction Act, which is now law, enacted provisions from the AERO Act, a bill I introduced and championed to boost sustainable aviation fuel production and bring more clean energy jobs to Georgia. I’ve long believed our state has a bright future as we keep growing the green economy and I look forward to continuing my close partnership with LanzaJet.”
The SAF produced at LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuel will be compatible with existing aircraft currently in use around the world.
Located in Treutlen County and less than 100 miles from Savannah, the Soperton plant will create 125 direct jobs over the construction phase of the process, and 31 direct and 25-50 indirect jobs during ongoing operations.