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Turley submits application for Sustainable Aviation Fuel production facility in Port Talbot

On behalf of LanzaTech UK Ltd (a subsidiary of LanzaTech Global), a carbon recycling company, transforming waste carbon into sustainable raw materials, Turley has submitted a planning application to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Port Talbot, South Wales. The industrial process will transform responsibly sourced ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel using the LanzaJet™ Alcohol-to-Jet Process.

We are providing expert Planning, EIA, Strategic Communications, Economics, Sustainability & ESG and Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment services for the planned facility, which will be located at Crown Wharf in Port Talbot on an industrial brownfield site. 

The facility will produce about 100 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel per year. It is expected to create over 150 full-time jobs, including 85 permanent jobs on-site and a further employment in the supply chain.

The SAF produced will replace about 1% of the fossil jet fuel used in the UK. Compared to fossil jet fuel, SAF reduces greenhouse gases by more than 70% across the life cycle and is a key part of the UK’s plans to achieve net zero climate emissions by 2050. The facility will be the first of its kind in Europe, with a similar process shortly to begin operation in the US.

The planning application has now been submitted to Neath Port Talbot Council for its consideration. Separate permitting applications are being submitted to the Health and Safety Executive and Natural Resources Wales.

Jim Woodger, LanzaTech UK Ltd. Managing Director, said:

“We are delighted to have submitted our planning application, a key milestone in making Port Talbot a leading centre to produce sustainable aviation fuel, an important green technology. The application comprises more than 2000 pages of detailed analysis to ensure Project Dragon is safe and minimises the impact on the local environment whilst maximising the benefits for the town. We have devoted considerable efforts to listen and respond to the cares of local people and Neath Port Talbot Council.”

The planning application follows two periods of public consultation, enabling the project team to build a comprehensive understanding of local views. Important design choices made to address local interests include the proposed installation of an enclosed ground flare to reduce noise and visibility; investment in the dock and harbour to enable ethanol feedstock and SAF to be transported to and from the site by boat; minimising vehicle movements; ensuring negligible air pollution; and, maximising local economic growth and job creation.

Jim Woodger added:

“LanzaTech will be a good neighbour. We are delighted that feedback on our proposals shows widespread support and we will continue to inform local people as our plans progress. We hope to receive planning consent in early 2024 and begin construction next year, creating several hundred jobs throughout the two-years of the build. Our goal is to begin hiring permanent staff and be in production in late 2026. However, this is depends on the UK Government finalising its legislation creating supply and demand for SAF.”

The UK Government has committed to introduce a SAF Mandate from 2025, requiring airlines to use 10% SAF in 2030. Project Dragon will produce 10% of this target and is scheduled to be one of five SAF production plants under construction in 2025 if legislation is finalised.

Detailed engineering studies have been undertaken by Technip Energies. The project is supported by a £25 million Government grant through the Department for Transport Advanced Fuels Fund.

23 November 2023

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