Fluor Wins Engineering Work for UK SAF Hub

By Simon West

Fluor has won a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract from green fuels firm LanzaJet for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production hub in Teesside, northern England.

The initiative, dubbed Project Speedbird, is being jointly developed by LanzaJet and British Airways. The venture will use LanzaJet’s alcohol-to-jet technology to convert second-generation ethanol from agricultural waste and woody biomass into SAF.

The facility, selected for its strategic location, advanced infrastructure and access to skilled workers, is expected to produce more than 90,000 tonnes, or 30 million gallons, of SAF and renewable diesel each year.

British Airways plans to use the fuel to cut carbon emissions by some 230,000 tonnes annually, or the equivalent of 26,000 domestic flights.

“Project Speedbird marks a pivotal advancement in the global effort to decarbonize aviation,” said Mike Alexander, group president of project execution at Fluor. “By accelerating the adoption of sustainable fuel technologies, this project will help redefine the future of flight. Fluor is proud to bring our engineering and design expertise to this visionary initiative.”

LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis said partnering with Fluor underscored the firm’s commitment to “the highest standards in project execution.”

Fluor is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network.