LanzaJet Advances Ethanol-to-Jet Project Speedbird in UK

Funding and Development

LanzaJet has secured over $13 million from the UK Department for Transport's Advanced Fuels Fund to advance Project Speedbird, a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) biorefinery in Teesside, UK. This funding supports the project's progression into the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase, marking a significant step towards establishing one of the UK's first commercial-scale ethanol-to-SAF production facilities using waste-based feedstocks.

Technological Integration

Project Speedbird will utilize LanzaJet's patented Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology, incorporating Technip Energies' Hummingbird® ethanol-to-ethylene technology. This integration is being deployed at a commercial demonstration scale for the first time at LanzaJet's Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Georgia, USA.

Production and Environmental Impact

Once operational, the facility is expected to produce over 30 million gallons of sustainable fuels annually from low-carbon ethanol, significantly reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil jet fuel. This aligns with the UK Government's SAF mandate, which requires 10% of jet fuel used in the UK to come from sustainable sources by 2030.

Regional and Economic Benefits

Located in Teesside, the project is set to create hundreds of jobs and boost the local economy, contributing to the region's position as a clean energy hub. By anchoring the project in Teesside, LanzaJet aims to build a broader ecosystem for sustainable fuels, connecting local feedstock providers, renewable energy producers, and storage and distribution partners. This supports the UK's broader net-zero strategy and ambition to become a global leader in SAF production.