LanzaTech and DARPA to Work on CO to Jet Project

ROSELLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Clean energy technology company LanzaTech announces it has been awarded funds from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to perform research focusing on novel, low cost routes for the production of jet fuel (JP-8) from carbon monoxide (CO) rich sources.

“DARPA support will enable us to continue to improve the economics of this unique technology platform, leading to an economically and environmentally sound approach to alternative aviation fuels”

The project will focus on technology development to reduce costs for producing alcohol intermediates, which will be thermochemically converted to JP-8.

Dr Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech’s chief executive, says this project supports the US military’s commitment to future low carbon fuel use.

“The Department of Defense has set ambitious targets for alternative fuel use with the Air Force goal of 50% alternative fuel use in all its domestic flights, and the Navy’s objective to use 50% alternative fuel across all of its operations by 2020,” Holmgren says.

LanzaTech provides a sustainable, cost-competitive route to drop-in hydrocarbon fuels by producing alcohols from CO-rich feedstocks, such as industrial off gases that have no impact on food or water security. The economics of an alcohol-to-jet process are driven by the cost of the alcohol intermediates. LanzaTech’s novel alcohol production process, combined with partner technology for converting alcohols to JP-8, enables cost-competitive production of alternative jet fuel.

“DARPA support will enable us to continue to improve the economics of this unique technology platform, leading to an economically and environmentally sound approach to alternative aviation fuels,” says Holmgren.

About LanzaTech: LanzaTech was founded in early 2005 to develop and commercialize proprietary technologies for the production of lowest cost fuel ethanol from gases produced by the steel industry. LanzaTech has expanded the focus of its process development program to include other industrial off gases and synthesis gas. The company employs a strong technical team internationally, has a rapidly growing patent portfolio. LanzaTech is moving quickly to commercialize its technology in China, taking its process from pilot to commercial scale.