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In partnership with LanzaJet, Jet Zero Australia has secured funding and support from Qantas Group, Airbus, and the Queensland Government to deploy its Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology in Australia. This partnership aims to establish Australia’s first ATJ Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production plant in Queensland.

The world’s second-largest per capita carbon emitter on domestic air travel, Australia’s aviation sector accounts for approximately 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. As identified by airlines, governments, and energy leaders globally, SAF is widely recognized as the most immediate solution for decarbonizing aviation.

LanzaJet’s proprietary technology produces low-carbon intensity sustainable aviation fuel from ethanol, which airlines can use without modifying their aircraft or aviation infrastructure. The Queensland plant is projected to be Australia’s first sustainable aviation fuel plant and will produce up to 100 million litres of SAF annually from agricultural by-products such as sugarcane.

As part of their $200 million investment in Australian SAF development, Qantas Group and aerospace giant Airbus will jointly invest AUD$ 2 million in early-stage project capital. Meanwhile, the Queensland Government and other Australian and international institutions will support the total capital raise of AUD$6 million.

The SAF produced in Queensland will increase domestic fuel supply, including the nation’s flag carrier, Qantas Group, which has committed to using 10% SAF in its overall fuel consumption by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Qantas currently uses SAF sourced from overseas to power commercial flights out of London and plans to add San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2025.

The Queensland plant’s construction is set to begin in 2024, and once operational, the plant will power flights across Australia and around the globe, creating more regional jobs in the process. Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said this project would be a game-changer for Queensland’s economic future.

JetZero CEO Ed Mason stated that this project would help Australian businesses and governments drive real reductions in aviation emissions. “LanzaJet is undoubtedly one of the world leaders in commercializing ATJ SAF technology,” Mason added, “and we are excited to work with them to establish a local SAF industry.”

The Queensland project is expected to jumpstart the country’s commitment to clean aviation and ensure the entire process of SAF production takes place within Australia, from feedstock sourcing to fuel production. Australia exports large volumes of SAF feedstock to produce biofuels in other countries.

This project will be a model for other locations worldwide and marks a significant step toward turning agricultural and sugarcane byproducts into aviation fuel to power flights globally. It is a first but essential step towards a sustainable future for the aviation industry in Australia.

In summary, this is essential to combating climate change and enabling the global energy transition. All parties involved, from global aviation leaders in Qantas Group and Airbus to the Queensland Government, are committed to scaling SAF production as urgently as our planet needs. Queensland is ready to take off as a clean energy powerhouse with this project.