ARENA awards $6.5M to two SAF projects

In Australia, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is supporting cleaner Australian skies, with up to A$10.4 million in funding for two projects from its Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Funding Initiative. ARENA is providing A$8 million in funding to Licella and A$2.4 million to Viva Energy for separate studies to develop renewable fuel alternatives for Australia’s airline industry.

The two projects include:

·      A$8 million to Australian technology and project developer Licella for the A$26.1 million ‘Project Swift – SAF from Sugarcane Residues Feasibility Study’ to complete Feasibility and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies assessing the viability of establishing a biorefinery facility in Bundaberg, Queensland utilising Licella’s patented Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR™) hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert sugar mill residues to renewable fuels. The proposed facility would be capable of producing approximately 60 ML per annum of low carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs), of which around 40 ML per annum will be SAF.

·      A$2.4 million to Viva Energy for the A$4.9 million ‘SAF infrastructure Solutions for the Future project’ to recondition an existing tank at its Pinkenba Terminal to enable blended SAF supply into Brisbane Airport for commercial use. Viva will also work with industry partners to develop a book and claim system so that customers can recognise the carbon reduction benefits of the SAF supplied.The Project will conclude with Viva Energy supplying SAF into the Brisbane Joint User Hydrant Installation and demonstrate the storage and use of SAF within the existing airport. Following the project, the system will be able to supply volumes of SAF to meet customer demand.