Jet Zero secures $14m in Government funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Townsville

Jet Zero secures $14m in Government funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Townsville

Jet Zero Australia has secured $14 million in government funding to advance its flagship Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) initiative, Project Ulysses, based in Townsville.

The funding consists of $9 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Advancing Renewables Program, and $5 million from the Queensland Government via its New-Industry Development Strategy (QNIDS).

The project aims to convert agricultural by-products into 102 million litres of SAF and 11 million litres of renewable diesel annually, marking the largest government funding ever committed to a SAF project in Australia.

In addition to this new support, Jet Zero Australia has already attracted over $30 million in private investment from partners including Qantas, Airbus, and Idemitsu Kosan. The funds will be directed toward completing the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase and advancing commercial deployment of Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) SAF technology.

“The project is targeting to commence production by 2027,” Jet Zero Australia CEO Ed Mason said.

Delivering Project Ulysses will help capture the economic benefits of a domestic SAF industry for Australia which is expected to be worth $10 billion annually and create up to 26,200 jobs nationwide by 2030, with regional Australia positioned more than anywhere to benefit.”

The initiative also bolsters domestic energy security by potentially supplying SAF for both civilian and military aircraft, with Townsville playing a critical role.

Local political leaders have voiced strong support for the project. Resources and Critical Minerals Minister and Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, highlighted the job creation potential, stating: “There is great potential in creating jobs through projects like this which is why we are working with the Commonwealth Government to back Townsville’s future.”

Les Walker, Member for Mundingburra, emphasized Townsville’s readiness for such developments, noting: “We’ve developed the Townsville State Development Area to enable projects like this which will create good jobs for the city now and into the future.”

The funding builds on an earlier $760,000 grant from the Department of State Development and Infrastructure, which supported the project’s initial feasibility study.

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