LanzaJet, a leading innovator in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology, has announced the selection of Teesside’s Wilton International as the location for its next production facility, Project Speedbird. The new ethanol-to-SAF plant will be developed in partnership with Sembcorp Utilities (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, and British Airways.
Project Speedbird aims to produce over 90,000 tonnes (30 million gallons) of SAF and renewable diesel annually. The facility, which has secured funding from the UK government’s Advanced Fuels Fund, is expected to generate significant regional economic benefits, including the creation of approximately 30 skilled jobs within LanzaJet’s operations.
The SAF produced at Project Speedbird is forecasted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 230,000 tonnes per year—equivalent to the emissions of 26,000 British Airways UK domestic flights.
Strategic Location for Energy Transition
The selection of Wilton International as the site for Project Speedbird is seen as crucial due to the area’s advanced infrastructure and strategic location, which are vital for the successful production of SAF. Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, emphasized that the site enhances Teesside’s role in the UK’s energy transition and industrial decarbonisation efforts. “This project will strengthen the region’s status as a leader in alternative energy initiatives and help the UK meet its clean energy goals,” Samartzis stated.
The collaboration with British Airways is designed to build a local SAF supply chain, a critical solution for reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. “Project Speedbird highlights the power of aligning technology, investment, and partnerships to tackle aviation’s carbon footprint,” Samartzis added.
Innovative Technology and Economic Impact
Project Speedbird will utilize LanzaJet’s proprietary alcohol-to-jet technology, which is already in use at the company’s Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Georgia, USA—the world’s first commercial ethanol-to-SAF production plant. The plant will produce SAF from sustainably sourced ethanol and establish collaborations that will contribute to the local economy.
Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, expressed excitement about the project’s potential. “This milestone marks significant progress in scaling up SAF production in the UK, which is essential for achieving our net-zero goals by 2050. Project Speedbird will also support local communities and create green jobs,” Harris said.
Sembcorp’s Role in the Energy Transition
Sembcorp Energy UK’s CEO, Mike Patrick, welcomed the collaboration with LanzaJet, noting that Wilton International’s infrastructure and energy services would support the development of sustainable, low-carbon solutions. “We look forward to working with LanzaJet as they play a pivotal role in the aviation industry’s journey to net-zero emissions,” Patrick stated.
The establishment of Project Speedbird underscores the growing importance of SAF in the global aviation sector and its role in achieving decarbonisation targets. With strategic partnerships and innovative technologies, the project is set to play a key part in the UK’s transition to a cleaner, greener energy future.
