By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has conditionally approved loan guarantees worth nearly $3 billion to support two major sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects. These projects are critical to advancing the production of renewable biofuels and meeting the country's clean energy targets for the aviation sector.
One of the projects, receiving up to $1.44 billion, is led by Calumet in Montana. The funds will help expand the company's biofuel production facility, enabling it to produce approximately 315 million gallons of biofuels annually, most of which will be SAF.
The facility will use a mix of vegetable oils, fats, and greases to create SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha. Once fully operational, this facility will produce 10% of the U.S. goal for SAF by 2030.
The second project, which has secured a conditional loan guarantee of up to $1.46 billion, is led by Gevo in South Dakota. Gevo is set to build the first commercial-scale facility in the United States that will convert corn starch into SAF.
The facility will incorporate carbon capture and renewable power technologies, making it a significant step forward in sustainable biofuel production.
The U.S. aims to meet its entire aviation fuel demand with SAF by 2050, and these projects play a key role in achieving that goal. The DOE also expects biofuel production in the U.S. to increase by 50% by 2024, driven primarily by SAF production.
These initiatives align with the government’s broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions and create greener, more sustainable energy solutions for the aviation industry.
As the world moves towards renewable energy, these projects will help bolster U.S. leadership in clean aviation fuel production.
Photo Credit: photo-credit-vista-mipan
Categories: National