Fuel via Low Carbon Integrated Technology from Ethanol

Project Information

FLITE

Grant agreement ID: 857839

DOI

10.3030/857839

EC signature date 6 November 2020

Start date 1 December 2020

End date 30 June 2029

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 111 648 539,69

EU contribution

€ 20 000 000,00

Coordinated by

SKYNRG BV
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FLITE (Fuel via Low Carbon Integrated Technology from Ethanol)

Reporting period: 2021-06-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Aviation is responsible for 2% of all man-made carbon emissions (IATA, 2021) and this impact can even increase to 20% in 2050 if no measures are taken. Unfortunately, aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize compared to other modalities such as road transport or trains, which are rapidly developing on electrification and the use of hydrogen. In the foreseeable future these options will not be feasible alternatives for aviation, especially for long haul flights. As a result, aviation must rely on other emission reduction possibilities such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Current SAF production capacity is however covering less than 1% of the total jet fuel market (STAT, 2020).

The FLITE project will boost this SAF production capacity by building Europe’s first-of-its kind LanzaJetTM Alcohol to Jet (AtJ) facility. This facility will convert waste-based ethanol to SAF. The waste-based ethanol will be produced from abundant sustainable sources that do not compete with food or feed. FLITE will establish the complete supply chain from ethanol to multiple end users of SAF and Renewable Diesel. It will be a proof point and catalyst for further development of the AtJ technology within Europe and across the world. In addition, FLITE will contribute to the increasing SAF demand created by Europe’s promising policy systems and international airline customers. The FLITE consortium consists of: SkyNRG, LanzaTech, Fraunhofer, E4tech and RSB.

FLITE’s objectives:
- Demonstrate pre-commercial scale production of Alcohol to Jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK). The facility will be operated for at least 1000 hours at >75% utilization (TRL7) and produces approximate 30,000 mt of SAF per year. The feedstock will be waste-based ethanol.
- Demonstrate the flexibility of ethanol-based ATJ technology for meeting the needs of commercial aviation.
- Ensure global monitoring of the technology from the technical, environmental, economic and socio-economic perspective.
- Risk review
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), sustainability assessment for sustainability certification, and life cycle costs analysis (LCCA) will be executed.
- Socio-economic monitoring methodology will be implemented.
- Developing and implementing an innovation strategy that allows control over the intangible and tangible assets developed during the project and thus enables the future exploitation of the project developments.
- Generate the project stakeholder community and keep the key audiences aware of FLITE’s developments by means of an integrated dissemination and communication strategy.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project has been kicked-off with a meeting on the 8th of December. Quickly followed by establishing an organizational structure that includes a thorough assessment of all critical risks that might occur including its mitigation strategies. Various activities were performed in the areas of engineering, downstream supply chain development, knowledge building and in communication & dissemination:
- Engineering: the preliminary engineering of the AtJ facility has been completed. Process documentation such as heat & material balances and process & utility flow diagrams were developed. These documents where key for the Outside Battery Limit estimate and have kick-started the permitting process.
- Downstream supply chain: the lay-out of the downstream supply chain was developed. This will be detailed out during the further project evolvement. Initial interest to take-off the products was tested. Letters of intent from trading companies, (petro)chemical industry, and airlines have been signed.
- Knowledge development: a business plan was developed, addressing the projects financial and economic viability next to its market potential.
- Communication & dissemination: FLITE account on the main communication and dissemination channels such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are created. The dissemination activities included an official press release announcing the FLITE project kick-off, a video interview with FinnTV and launching the FLITE website (https://FLITE.EU). Furthermore, a communication & dissemination plan was developed.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

One of the expected results at the end of the FLITE project is a designed, constructed, and operating AtJ production facility. The facility will be operated for a minimum of 1.000 hours at >75% utilization (TRL7) and producing at least 30.000 mt of SAF during the project's timeline. With this the project will provide the first commercial quantities of SAF, from waste-based ethanol and produced in Europe.

FLITE will demonstrate the downstream supply chain for SAF deliveries, from bio-ethanol producers towards multiple end users, ensuring the sustainability throughout the supply chain. This sustainability will be guaranteed through an extensive LCA and RSB certification.

Furthermore, a strategic dissemination and communication plan will create awareness of the project and will give visibility to the project results. This also includes clustering with other Horizon2020 project that are involved in SAF production and distribution.

FLITE