Not enough supply
- Large demand and supply gap that HEFA alone cannot tackle
- Greenfields projects take years to develop and build
SAF
Cellulosic Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Fast-forward to net zero
GranBio SAF
Why GranBio SAF
To meet Net Zero targets, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects an exponential surge in demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) beginning in 2030 and continuing through 2050. While HEFA (hydrotreated esters and fatty acids) currently leads the SAF landscape, market forecasts suggest that cellulosic ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) pathways will experience substantial growth.
GranBio has tested our patented technology for over 10,000 hours, yielding industry-leading results in carbon intensity, production cost, and time-to-market. Continue reading to learn more about how our technology stacks with competing pathways and how to secure your supply. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its Independent Engineers at ICF, a global consulting and technology services company, have validated the technology's performance.
The DOE has awarded more than $110 MM in support of AVAP's development and scale-up.
The Problem
Our Value Proposition
-
More SAF, faster
- Cellulosic ETJ is a scalable, sustainable alternative to HEFA, with lower carbon footprint
- Synergies with pulp & paper allow for brownfield builds, trimming timelines
-
Few alternative routes to HEFA
- Low technology readiness level
- Scaling-up presents challenges
- More expensive
Derisking strategies
- Proven technology: 10,000+ hours runtime at GranBio's integrated pilot plant in Georgia
- Robust plan to scale-up with confidence using the same equipment and infrastructure as pulp & paper; competitive with HEFA pricing
-
Parity to Jet Fuel is challenging
- High CAPEX
- High OPEX
Smart business model, with path to parity
- Tech & infrastructure synergies = lower CAPEX
- Waste as feedstock (abundant & cheap), lower energy requirements and higher yields = lower OPEX
- Leverage incentives today and existing bolt-on technologies ensure parity in the future
Technology
The case for ETJ
SAF Pathways Comparison
Compared to other pathways, ETJ holds the highest technology readiness level - it doesn't just work in theory, it's real and around the corner with our soon-to-be-built commercial-scale SAF plant in the USA. When fully deployed to 1-billion GPY by 2040, our SAF pathway will deliver the highest feedstock-to-fuel yields, translating into the most competitive production cost compared to other low-carbon jet fuel alternatives.
| GranBio Cellulosic ETJ | Gasification FT | Hydrothermal Liquefaction | PTL (e-SAF) | HEFA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Takeaways |
Most competitive balance of OPEX, CAPEX and carbon footprint. Near term implementation. |
Low technology readiness level, decades from realization. High CAPEX. |
High CAPEX and energy demand, smaller capacity plants |
Low technology readiness level, decades from realization. High CAPEX and OPEX |
Limited feedstock with escalating price. Low CAPEX* |
| Feedstock |
Lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural and forest residues |
Lignocellulosic biomass, municipal solid waste |
Lignocellulosic biomass |
CO₂ |
Vegetable oils, animal fats, waste greases |
| ASTM approval |
|
|
|
|
|
| Technology Readiness Level |
6 |
4 |
5 |
3-4 |
9 |
| CAPEX $/gal (1st commercial) |
X |
2X+ |
2X |
6X |
X/3 |
| Production Cost $/gal (1st commercial) |
Y |
~Y |
~Y |
2.5Y |
~Y+ |
Source: Various public industry and government reports, available upon request.
*Price of HEFA feedstocks have more than doubled over the past few years due to rising demand for renewable diesel and SAF
production and limited availability (DOE). Limited availability of HEFA feedstocks will constrain these facilities to 6–8% of total SAF
production by 2050 (ICF).
Sustainability
Path to Net Zero
Strategies for Securing Net Zero
GranBio's ETJ pathway achieves the lowest carbon footprint of competing ETJ technologies. Our process solves for net zero, here's how:
Net Zero Feedstock
Biomass residues incur zero emissions during production per international LCA methodology
Chemical Recovery
The AVAP biomass fractionation process recovers 98+% of ethanol and SO2 for reuse in the process
Green Energy
Power and heat from biomass boiler
Optimized Logistics
P&P mill sites are ideally located within short distance from feedstock and have low-carbon product transportation options, including ports and railway
Excess Electricity Sold to Grid
GranBio's renewable energy complex will include renewable biomass power to the grid and SAF
Energy Integration
All processes are energy integrated with our technology ETJ partner
Feedstock
Sustainable Feedstock
Our process uses low-carbon-intensity, low-value biomass such as wood and agricultural residues, as feedstock. There are several advantages to people and planet:
• No competition with food nor land for food production • Lower production costs • Support nature conservation and regeneration
• Carbon recycling: the CO₂ released from burning our SAF is biogenic • Support local communities
For agricultural residues, for instance, we have extensive expertise gained over the past ten years in harvesting, baling and transportation equipment for sugar cane straw agricultural residues. In addition, we have developed proprietary storage and processing best practices.
Feedstock harvesting, baling and transportation by GranBio.
Feedstock harvesting, baling and transportation by GranBio.
Feedstock harvesting, baling and transportation by GranBio.
Feedstock harvesting, baling and transportation by GranBio.
Feedstock harvesting, baling and transportation by GranBio.
Feedstock harvesting, baling and transportation by GranBio.
-
Sotile Farms (LA) sugar cane straw. -
LuckStone chipped wood (pine) construction and demolition debris. -
HW small diameter thinnings from pine plantation and chipped as whole trees in the woods.
For woody biomass, we work with long-standing
partners, to ensure reliable and steady supply.
Abundant, low-value feedstock
According to DOE’s 2023 Billion-Ton Report, near-term resources can provide approximately 350 million tons per year of biomass above current uses, which would roughly double the current U.S. bioenergy economy. In a mature market there is a 1.1-1.5 billion tons of biomass production potential, per year, including all types of waste, such as forestry and agricultural. We will utilize a small fraction of the residual biomass available in the U.S. for production of 1-billion GPY SAF.
Forest Biomass Production Potential (U.S.)
62.7 MM TPY
Small-diameter trees
0%
Logging residues
0%
Other forest waste
0%
Forest processing waste
0%
Agriculture Biomass Production Potential (U.S.), above current uses, mature market
615 MM TPY
Energy crops herbaceous
0%
Agricultural residues
0%
Energy crops woody
0%
Intermediate oilseeds
0%
Agricultural processing waste
0%
Source: US Department of Energy, 2023 Billion-Ton Report
✦ Production of 1 billion GPY GranBio SAF will utilize
about 13 MM dry tpy residual biomass.
Supply
1-billion-gallons-per-year by 2040
We offer two ways of accessing GranBio's Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Technology Licensing
We offer technology licensing options for our AVAP technology, allowing interested customers to produce SAF at their own plants.
SAF Purchasing Agreement
Customers can enter a long-term purchase agreement, securing their SAF supply directly from GranBio.
Contact
Want to learn more?
Reach out to our experts.
Now is the time to act! Reach out to our team to explore how we can support
in tackling your net zero targets at growth@granbio.com
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