Lanzatech Dragon, UK

Project DRAGON, stands for Decarbonizing and Reimagining Aviation for the Goal Of Netzero. It will convert waste gases from steel making into synthetic kerosene for use in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).This is set to be the world’s first commercial scale integration of Gas Fermentation (GF) and alcohol to jet SAF. 

The plant aims to produce 1% of all UK jet fuel – helping the UK hits its mandated target of 10% SAF usage by 2030. 

The project is looking to take emissions from Tata Steel’s steelworks. These would be transformed via LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform to make ethanol as a feedstock for the facility. LanzaTech have selected Fluor Corporation, a leading global engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm, to provide Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) services for this part of the project. “With more than 110 years in the industry, Fluor brings world class front-end engineering and EPC firm experience to assist LanzaTech in deploying its technology,” said Jason Kraynek, president, Production & Fuels, Fluor Corporation.

The ethanol would be turned into SAF using the LanzaJet Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process, which incorporates Technip Energies ‘ethanol to ethylene’ Hummingbird technology. 

December 2022 comments

Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech: “We must accelerate deployment of SAF plants in the UK. We’re excited that Project DRAGON has been recognized for its potential to deliver results and create new jobs while producing the volumes of SAF greatly needed by a sector that has limited options today. I thank the UK Department for Transport for its continued support and for showing leadership in validating new technologies that can have a real impact in the UK and beyond.”

Jonathon Counsell, IAG’s Group Head of Sustainability: “Investing in Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is one of the best opportunities our industry has to decarbonise. We’re delighted that Project Dragon has received crucial financial support in the UK from the Department for Transport Advanced Fuels Fund. IAG has committed US$865 million in SAF purchases and investments to date, including supporting the first of its kind LanzaJet ethanol-to-jet plant being built in the US. With the right policy support to incentivise further investment, the UK could see many SAF plants built over the next decade, creating 6,500 jobs and saving over three million tonnes of CO2 per year as well as improving the UK’s energy security.”

Holly Boyd-Boland, VP Corporate Development at Virgin Atlantic: “Delivering 10% SAF in 2030 requires a UK SAF industry at scale. Today’s award of the DFT’s Advanced Fuel Fund will take us a step closer to proving the technology works and attracting the private investment needed to finance these plants. Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech have a long history of collaboration on SAF, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to produce, purchase and fly SAF from the UK.”

Karen Jones, CEO of Neath Port Talbot Council: “We are delighted to be part of a project that has the potential to transform our local economy – and the entire aviation industry. The aviation sector urgently needs solutions and this a great example of how innovation across multiple sectors can support a domestic sustainable aviation industry, right here in Neath Port Talbot.”

Tata Steel, UK spokesperson: “Achieving our ambition of making CO₂ neutral steel involves looking at all ways to reduce our emissions, or in this case, potentially transforming some of our waste gases into useful products such as jet fuel.”

Bhaskar Patel, Technip Energies – SVP Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals and Circularity: “We are excited to be partnering with LanzaTech through our teams in the UK on this journey to help decarbonise the UK aviation industry. The implementation of T.EN’s Hummingbird technology integrated within the LanzaJet ATJ process provides a ‘best in class’ technology pathway for conversion of ethanol to SAF”.

Jimmy Samartzis, CEO, LanzaJet: “Project DRAGON will contribute roughly 10% of the entire UK Mandate for SAF by 2030. That’s significant, and government leadership like this is paving the way for emerging industries like SAF to achieve these ambitious and necessary goals. LanzaJet’s alcohol-to-jet technology paired with LanzaTech’s gas fermentation process is changing how we think about the circular economy across the world and driving decarbonization for aviation. We’re thrilled to be partnering with LanzaTech on this work and we’re grateful for this support from the UK Department for Transport.”