Jet Zero Australia executes FEED agreements to advance Australia’s 1st ethanol-to-SAF project

Jet Zero Australia announced April 7 the execution of a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract with Technip Energies and continuation of the owner’s engineering services contract with Long Energy & Resources for Project Ulysses, a project to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from ethanol located in Townsville, Australia.

The contracts are expected to run for several months and cover an extensive package of engineering activities, documentation and planning to refine the cost estimate for the project, develop detailed timelines and prepare a scope and basis for the project’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts.

The project aims to produce 102 million liters (approximately 27 million gallons) of SAF and 11 million liters (2.9 million gallons) of renewable diesel annually by 2028 made from Australian bioethanol, using leading SAF-technology company LanzaJet’s proprietary alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology.

It is set to make a substantial regional economic impact on North Queensland by delivering over 100 direct skilled operational jobs and contributing to Australia’s energy security by bolstering domestic jet-fuel production for both civilian and military aviation.

Technip Energies will lead FEED activities from Perth and Brisbane, providing detailed multidisciplinary EPC services, expertise and experience.

Long Energy & Resources will provide specialist project management and owner engineering services from Brisbane to assure FEED engineering is delivered to Jet Zero’s design philosophy, and in accordance with the contract.

Execution of these contracts to complete the AUD$36.8 million (USD$22.3 million) FEED program was made possible through crucial funding support from Jet Zero’s investors and industry partners including Airbus, Qantas and Idemitsu of Japan, as well as the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the Advancing Renewables Program and the Queensland government’s Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.

Janelle Poole, Queensland’s assistant minister for community safety, defense industry and veterans, said the Queensland government is steadfast in its commitment to explore opportunities for new industries across Queensland, particularly focusing on economic growth in the regions.

“The Crisafulli LNP Queensland government will continue to actively look at ways the biofuels sector can expand, noting the importance of working closely with our agricultural cropping production areas,” Poole said.