Avina to develop 1st on-site SAF production facility in US at Pittsburgh International Airport

Avina Synthetic Aviation Fuel announced May 29 that it is partnering with Pittsburgh International Airport to develop the first on-airport sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility utilizing one of the very first alcohol-to-jet pathways in the U.S.

Avina said it will build a state-of-the-art facility to provide ASTM-certified fuel on airport property just south of PIT’s terminal by deploying KBR’s innovative PureSAFSM alcohol-to-jet technology, developed and owned by Swedish Biofuels AB and exclusively licensed globally by KBR.

“This facility will be a gamechanger in the infrastructure and economic development for the Pittsburgh region and will present a unique opportunity for airline partners to secure SAF readily and cost-effectively to meet their ambitious decarbonization targets,” Avina stated.

The facility, through multiple phases of development, is expected to produce over 100 million gallons of SAF annually to meet local and regional commercial and cargo needs at PIT and beyond.

The plant will have a carbon intensity that is at least 65 percent lower than that of conventional jet fuel, according to Avina.

The project has earned support from international aviation leaders.

“In pursuit of responsible and resilient growth in aerospace, Boeing supports the development of advanced, synthetic fuels here in the U.S. to power air travel into the future,” said Mike Caston with Boeing.

Project leaders from KBR, Pittsburgh International Airport and Avina acknowledged the global support and potential impact the project would have.

“KBR is proud to support the Pittsburgh International Airport team and enable it to be one of the first airports globally to provide SAF to its customers by producing it on-site at the airport,” said Hari Ravindran, KBR’s global senior vice president for technology. “PureSAF (alcohol-to-jet) technology is designed to allow the facility to deliver 100 percent drop-in fuel made from renewable feedstocks while meeting global specifications for sustainable jet fuel. This project is a real example of how innovation and strong business relationships are delivering tangible benefits to the aviation industry.”

Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport, said, “Pittsburgh International Airport has long been committed to resiliency and driving innovation in the aviation and energy industries. This unique partnership with Avina and KBR will result in on-site SAF production and fills a growing need for our airline partners and the industry overall. With abundant natural resources, robust energy infrastructure and available fuel storage, PIT is uniquely positioned to meet these goals and serve the growing demands for SAF.”

Vishal Shah, the founder and CEO of Avina, added, “Avina is excited to support the vision of Pittsburgh International Airport and bring [this] SAF production facility to their doorstep.  We are committed to bringing hundreds of jobs to the community and expanding the energy-production ecosystem. With Pittsburgh’s commercial and cargo demand along with the network to connect to the other regional hubs, we aim to set the platform for such developments nationally and globally.”