A Chicago clean energy startup is set to open a sustainable jet fuel plant in Illinois, making it one of the largest such facilities in the U.S.
LanzaJet, a startup that turns alcohol into jet fuel, is partnering with Marquis Sustainable Aviation Fuel to open a sustainable fuel plant in Hennepin, Illinois, located about two hours southwest of Chicago.
Situated on a 2,500-acre site along the Illinois River, the facility aims to produce 120 million gallons of fuel per year.
The Illinois plant will be substantially larger than LanzaJet's Georgia facility, which will begin producing 10 million gallons of sustainable jet fuel a year starting in 2023. LanzaJet says the Illinois plant will be largest integrated sustainable fuels plant in the U.S.
Last month LanzaJet received a $50 million investment from Microsoft to support the construction of its Georgia plant. The company's other investors include the U.S. Department of Energy, British Airways, Shell and All Nippon Airways.
The plant will produce aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and other sustainable hydrocarbons, LanzaJet says. Using its process that converts alcohol to fuel, LanzaJet has set out to bring lower-cost sustainable aviation fuel to the market.
In 2020, LanzaJet officially spun out from LanzaTech, a 17-year-old Chicago clean-tech company that turns pollution into everyday products like fabric and fragrances. LanzaTech has worked with companies like Unilever, Loreal, lululemon and Indian Oil, and has raised more than $400 million in outside funding.
LanzaJet said it eventually aims achieve 1 billion gallons of sustainable jet fuel production in the U.S. by 2030.
