A company proposing a sustainable aviation fuel development for Townsville has established a 10ha trial plantation of pongamia at Powlathanga, south-west of Charters Towers.
Jet Zero Australia said the trial had progressed over the last 12 months under the leadership of Jet Zero project engineer and agronomist Ketti Ketmontri, with support from industrial manager Adam Douglas.
Pongamia is considered a super crop for biofuels and, as a leguminous tree, also naturally creates its own nitrogen fertiliser and improves the soil on which it grows.
Other pongamia projects recently announced in Queensland include a 3000ha pilot project by Rio Tinto focused on studying oil yields and growth conditions near Townsville.
There is also a trial by Idemitsu at Stanmore’s South Walker Creek mine to verify long-term cultivation methods, optimisation of the entire supply chain, and explore carbon credit creation opportunities.
Jet Zero said it was focussed on unlocking new economic opportunities in biofuels, attracting investment and supporting secure, well-paid jobs in remote and regional communities.
The company is advancing Project Ulysses, which aims to produce 102 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel and 11 million litres of renewable diesel annually by 2028.
This would be made from Australian bioethanol, using SAF technology company LanzaJet’s proprietary Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology.
Jet Zero expects the Townsville project to deliver more than 100 direct skilled operational jobs and to contribute to Australia’s energy security by bolstering domestic jet fuel production for civilian and defence force aviation.