LanzaJet contracts Nel Hydrogen US for containerized PEM electrolyzer at Georgia SAF project

Freedom Pines, the home of LanzaJet's alcohol-to-jet pilot plant and future site of its 10 mgy SAF facility (Photo: LanzaJet)

Nel Hydrogen US, a subsidiary of Nel ASA, has received a contract for a containerized polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer from LanzaJet, the company announced Sept. 13.

The containerized PEM electrolyzer will be installed at LanzaJet’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant—Freedom Pines Fuels—to be built at the site of its alcohol-to-jet pilot plant near Soperton, Georgia.

Production capacity for the plant, which will use ethanol as feedstock, is being scaled at 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel per year, with 90 percent SAF and 10 percent renewable diesel.

“Nel Hydrogen is thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking project with LanzaJet,” said Dave Wolff, regional sales manager for Nel Hydrogen US. “Electrolyzers can produce cost-effective hydrogen for green chemical processes, which we expect to accelerate in light of recent production tax credit legislation for low-carbon hydrogen.”

Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet CEO, added, “On-site green hydrogen production is an important component of our strategy to produce low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel at our facility in Georgia. Working with Nel Hydrogen will enable LanzaJet to further reduce emissions in the aviation sector.”

The purchase order has a value of approximately $3 million, and the equipment is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2023.