RYAM and GranBio have signed an MOU to explore a cellulosic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project at RYAM's Jesup, Georgia facility, aiming to convert biomass into SAF using GranBio's proprietary AVAP® technology.
Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc, a global leader in cellulose specialty products, and GranBio LLC, a prominent innovator in biochemicals and biofuels, today announced a significant stride towards sustainable aviation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement paves the way for jointly exploring the development of a small-scale commercial cellulosic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility, strategically co-located at RYAM’s Jesup, Georgia site.
The proposed project represents a forward-thinking initiative in the rapidly evolving clean energy sector. Under the terms of the MoU, GranBio will take the lead in this ambitious endeavor, deploying its cutting-edge proprietary AVAP® technology. This advanced process is designed to efficiently convert lignocellulosic biomass – a renewable resource derived from plant matter – into second-generation ethanol. This ethanol will then undergo further upgrading to produce SAF, a crucial component in the global effort to decarbonize the aviation industry. The produced SAF will be subsequently sold to an identified offtaker, ensuring a direct pathway to market.
A key advantage of this collaboration lies in its synergistic approach. The new facility is set to capitalize on RYAM’s extensive existing infrastructure at its Jesup plant. The project is poised to receive substantial financial backing, partially through a $100 million grant awarded to GranBio by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Beyond the immediate benefits of the SAF project, this MoU holds significant strategic implications for RYAM. Should the project successfully move forward, RYAM stands to gain a license to GranBio’s latest-generation Celer2L™ yeast and AVAP® technologies. This access would extend to both ethanol and sugar production at its own facility, in partnership with GranBio.
De Lyle Bloomquist, President and CEO of RYAM, emphasized the strategic alignment of this partnership, stating, “This MoU aligns with our strategy to unlock new value from our core assets and expand into renewable markets where our infrastructure and technical capabilities create a competitive advantage. GranBio brings world-class technology to this partnership, and together we’re exploring practical, scalable solutions to help decarbonize global aviation fuel markets.”
Echoing this sentiment, Luiz Oliveira, CEO of GranBio, expressed his enthusiasm for the deepened collaboration: “I am very pleased to strengthen our collaboration with RYAM and work toward our joint goal of developing clean energy solutions, while improving the communities in which we work. At Jesup, we will leverage our complementary capabilities in the development of a cost-effective, scalable solution for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.”
