Gevo, Axens form strategic alliance to accelerate ethanol-based SAF

Gevo Inc. announced Feb. 12 that it has formed a new strategic alliance with Axens to accelerate development and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using the ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) pathway.

The goal of the alliance is to leverage the most advantaged technologies, which Gevo said it believes is Axens’ Jetanol™ technology.

“The alliance brings each partner’s complementary value propositions, real-world experience, substantially de-risked technologies, plant integrations, and preengineered systems to the ETJ space,” Gevo stated.

The parties are also combining their technical resources to accelerate commercialization of Gevo’s patented, next-generation ethanol-to-olefins (ETO) technology for further process and cost improvements.

“Today, Axens and Gevo are delivering the most cost-effective, commercially proven SAF technology with Axens Jetanol™ and Gevo’s process and business system,” said Paul Bloom, Gevo’s chief business officer. “By expanding our partnership to accelerate the commercialization of Gevo’s ETO technology, we’re combining our industry expertise to further reduce costs and create SAF that is competitive with fossil fuels while capitalizing on the growing carbon market.”

Gevo said it and Axens are building on their previous commercial cooperation to ensure they “remain leaders in the ETJ space” by partnering with IFPEN on the final development and commercial deployment of Gevo’s ETO process for fuel applications, which, according to Gevo, are expected to achieve zero carbon intensity or better.

Gevo’s ETO process produces light olefins from ethanol, which can then be converted to transportation fuels utilizing commercially proven oligomerization and hydrogenation technologies.

Provided the technology development is completed successfully, Gevo said it is expected to lead deployment of its ETO technology in North America with an effort to bring jobs and economic development to rural America.

Axens would provide process licensing, catalyst, equipment and engineering services globally.

“The immense potential for both our companies to lead the future of air-travel decarbonization is an obvious way forward,” said Axens CEO Quentin Debuisschert. “The combination of Gevo market know-how and capacity of project development with Axens best-in-class technology, Jetanol™, is expected to allow a fast acceptance and adoption of the ETJ Pathway. The future ETO technology commercialization will keep Axens and Gevo on the cutting edge of the ETJ pathway by offering end-users and project developers the possibility to select the most attractive technology for their situation.”

Gevo CEO Pat Gruber added, “We believe that continuing to reduce production costs and capital costs for drop-in hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals has the potential to create large numbers of jobs, spur rural economic development and create clear, market-based incentives for regenerative agriculture. It adds up to a practical approach for increased energy production and better energy security. This is a real way forward—it drives costs lower, uses the same, established fuel infrastructure, has proven and auditable improvements in sustainability, including how land is used, and offers large benefits to our society, and, in particular, strengthens our rural communities. We see this can be done, and we are pursuing it. It’s the right thing to do.”