A new chapter for sustainable flight
LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels in Soperton Georgia is now fully online, becoming the first commercial facility on the planet to turn ethanol into drop in jet fuel. The two hundred million dollar plant completed final commissioning on 13 November 2025 and is designed to deliver nine million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel and one million gallons of renewable diesel during its first year. Backed by investors such as Shell British Airways and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, the project demonstrates real world confidence in clean aviation.
How the technology works
The process converts agricultural or waste based ethanol into synthetic paraffinic kerosene through dehydration oligomerisation and hydrogenation steps. Because it uses widely available ethanol, the technology can scale quickly without relying on limited lipids.
· Feedstock flexibility allows operators to switch between corn sugarcane and cellulosic ethanol as markets evolve.
· The finished fuel blends seamlessly at up to fifty percent with conventional Jet A without any engine modification.
· Lifecycle analysis indicates potential carbon savings above seventy percent compared with fossil jet fuel.
A regional ripple effect
A less obvious insight is the strategic location. Southeastern farmers already ship more than one billion bushels of corn annually. By providing a premium local outlet, the plant can stabilise seasonal grain prices and encourage adoption of regenerative cropping that lifts soil health. In turn, rural rail and
trucking networks gain steady high value freight flows, tightening the loop between agriculture and low carbon transport.
Conclusion
Freedom Pines proves that commercial scale ethanol to jet conversion is no longer theory but operating reality. As airlines line up multi year offtake agreements, the Georgia model offers a template cities and states can adapt to attract green investment, strengthen farm incomes and help aviation climb toward net zero.