Brazil first to make ethanol for SAF

Although the LanzaJet Inc. facility in Georgia is able to process ethanol made from American-grown corn, it will likely run on mostly sugarcane ethanol imported from Brazil when it starts commercial production, Bloomberg reports. That’s because many of the largest Brazilian mills have already been certified to make feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that meets official international and domestic standards.

Sao Martinho SA says it expects to be first to be able to supply the U.S. SAF market. It has received the necessary certifications – including the globally accepted Corsia standard, established by the United Nation’s governing body for aviation, plus registration with the Environmental Protection Agency — and has started to make SAF-compliant sugarcane ethanol for export, the company’s CEO told Bloomberg.

Other major Brazilian producers including Raízen SA, BP Bunge Bioenergia and mills linked to Copersucar SA have also received the Corsia certification. Raízen and Copersucar have registered with EPA as well, the companies said.

LanzaJet’s plant has been using U.S. corn ethanol during the testing and commissioning phase, and Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Samartzis has repeatedly said he aims to use the biofuel ingredient again when improvements are made to its carbon intensity. He told Bloomberg it’s critical the Biden administration make changes to recognize greenhouse-gas reduction practices already taking place in making U.S. corn ethanol.