Plans for a factory in Port Talbot creating hundreds of new green jobs in the production of commercial scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from gases produced in the making of steel, has secured a 拢25m funding boost. US firm LanzaTech, which is behind the project, is amongst five recipients across the 海角视频 sharing 拢165m under the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 Advanced Fuel Fund.
The fund forms part of effort to reach the 2050 net carbon zero target and supporting the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. LanzaTech, which has been working with Neath Port Talbot Council and Tata Steel- through its primary steel making plant in the town - for a number of years has developed technology converting steel mill off-gases into ethanol that is then used as an SAF.
The company鈥檚 Project Dragon factory is scheduled to become operational in 2026, creating hundreds of green jobs and producing 79,000 tonnes of SAT when at full capacity.
Jennifer Holmgren, chief executive of LanzaTech, said: 鈥淭he Advanced Fuels Fund competition from the Department for Transport shows real leadership in validating new technologies that can have a real impact globally and we鈥檙e excited that Project Dragon has been recognised for its potential to deliver results and create new jobs while producing the volumes of SAF greatly needed by a sector that has limited options today.
We must accelerate deployment of SAF plants in the 海角视频 and by working together, we can show the world what is possible, and I thank the 海角视频 Department for Transport for its continued support.鈥
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: 鈥淯sing waste or by-products to refuel airliners sounds like a flight of fancy, but thanks to 拢165m of government funding it鈥檚 going to help us make guilt-free flying a reality. It鈥檚 exactly this kind of innovation that will help us create thousands of green jobs across the country and slash our carbon emissions.鈥
The other SAF projects backed include new plants in Teesside, Immingham and Ellesmere Port. Together they are forecast to create thousands of green jobs using different methods in the production of creating SAF - including from everyday household waste. Combined they are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 200,000 tonnes each year once fully operational鈥 the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.
Launched alongside the Jet Zero Strategy in the summer, the Advanced Fuel Fund is designed to support the Westminster government鈥檚 vision for the 海角视频 to become a world leader in SAT production.
Jim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines 海角视频, said: 鈥淭he Jet Zero Strategy was a real statement of intent from the government that aviation, without the carbon, is an achievable end goal by 2050. This 拢165m of funding -alongside the 10% SAF mandate by 2030 shows the government shares our ambition of a home-grown SAF industry here in the 海角视频. This could generate tens of thousands of jobs and huge GVA (gross value added), levelling-up and exports potential for the 海角视频. It鈥檚 a big prize and one we are committed to working with ministers to achieve.鈥
A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: "A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 鈥淭his is great news for LanzaTech for Port Talbot and the wider economy across south-west Wales. Given our net zero ambition, we have worked closely with the company since 2018 to help them establish a presence in Port Talbot, which the company saw as being the right location and business environment to invest in.
鈥淲e are committed to helping create green jobs in the new industries of the future, which will help us deliver our ambition of creating a stronger, fairer and greener economy. This is exactly the type of investment we want to see more of here in Wales.鈥
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