Gevo to start soon alcohol-to-jet fuel shipments to Brisbane

US firm Gevo Inc (NASDAQ:GEVO) said today "it is currently contemplated" that this month it will ship the first gallons of alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) to partners in Queensland, Australia.

At Brisbane Airport, the Virgin Australia Group will be coordinating the buy, supply and blending of ATJ by Gevo, which will be blended with traditional jet fuel and used on flights departing the airport.

The state government is supporting the project as an initial step in the development of a renewable jet fuel production industry in Queensland. There is plenty of carbohydrate-based feedstocks in the state thanks to its well-developed agricultural sector, which presents an opportunity for the development of renewable jet fuel production plants in the future.

“The project announced today is critical to testing the fuel supply chain infrastructure in Australia to ensure that Virgin Australia and Brisbane Airport are ready for the commercial supply of these exciting fuels,” said Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti.

The ATJ for Brisbane Airport will come from Gevo’s hydrocarbon plant in Silsbee, Texas. The fuel is derived from isobutanol produced at the US company’s commercial isobutanol plant in Luverne, Minnesota. Gevo wants to expand the Luverne facility. It is pursuing more binding supply contracts to help it determine the end product mix between isobutanol, ATJ and isooctane at the expanded plant.

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