Atlantic Biomass Claims New System Doubles SAF Yields from Grasses

A Maryland-based company, Atlantic Biomass, LLC, has announced a new processing system that it claims can nearly double the yield of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from perennial grasses, a key non-food feedstock. The company's 'Dual Pathway' system reportedly increases biomass-to-SAF conversion efficiency from approximately 42% to 79%. This development in advanced biofuel technology could significantly improve the economics of renewable jet fuel production and help address the industry's supply constraints.

The core challenge in sustainable aviation fuel production from cellulosic sources like grasses is maximizing the conversion of the entire plant into valuable fuel products. Conventional methods often struggle to efficiently process both the cellulose and lignin components of the biomass. Atlantic Biomass's innovation, supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, aims to solve this by integrating two separate processing streams into a single, synergistic system.

How the 'Dual Pathway' System Works

According to a company press release, the 'Dual Pathway' technology combines a conventional biomass-to-ethanol-to-SAF pathway with a parallel process that converts the more resilient parts of the plant into a high-purity syngas feedstock. By creating two valuable outputs simultaneously, the system captures more of the energy potential stored in the perennial grasses. This multiprocessing approach is what enables the claimed jump in overall yield to 79%.

"Converting stems and leaves from sustainable biomass into high-energy liquid fuels is not easy. And right now it's expensive," said Bob Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass. "Instead of focusing on individual steps, we decided to look at biofuel production as a complex system that needed to be understood. We looked for feedback loops and possibilities for multiprocessing. We found some that would lower costs and we put it all back together in a simplified Dual Pathway system."

The project also received support from the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEII), highlighting regional and federal interest in fostering breakthroughs in bioenergy conversion. The development focuses on making the entire biomass to SAF conversion chain more efficient and, therefore, more cost-effective.

Industry Impact and Potential Scale

The aviation industry has identified SAF as the primary driver for its aviation decarbonization goals. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that SAF could contribute around 65% of the emissions reduction required for the sector to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, a goal also adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However, high costs—with SAF often priced up to five times higher than conventional jet fuel—and a severe lack of supply remain the largest barriers to widespread adoption.

Technologies that can utilize abundant, non-food feedstocks are critical. According to the DoE's 2023 Billion Ton Report, U.S. perennial grass resources, which can be grown on marginal land unsuitable for food crops, could yield between 284 and 535 million tonnes of biofuel biomass annually. Leveraging this potential, Atlantic Biomass claims its system could theoretically produce over one million barrels per day of SAF. This scale would be a significant step toward meeting government targets like the U.S. 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge,' which aims for 3 billion gallons of domestic consumption by 2030.

Next Steps and Market Viability

While the yield figures announced by Atlantic Biomass are promising, the 'Dual Pathway' system remains in the development stage. The next critical phases will involve securing further investment to scale the technology from the laboratory to a pilot or demonstration-scale facility. Independent, third-party validation of the 79% conversion efficiency claim under real-world operating conditions will be essential for attracting commercial partners and off-takers, such as airlines and major fuel producers.

The company has not disclosed a specific timeline for commercialization. The path forward will likely depend on continued research and development to optimize the process, alongside navigating the complex regulatory and financial landscape of the advanced biofuels market. Success will hinge on proving that the system can produce renewable jet fuel at a cost competitive with other SAF pathways and, eventually, conventional jet fuel.

Why This Matters

This development is significant because it directly addresses the core economic and scalability challenges hindering SAF adoption. By potentially doubling the fuel yield from a single tonne of non-food biomass, the 'Dual Pathway' system could fundamentally alter the cost-benefit analysis for biofuel producers. If proven at a commercial scale, this technology could unlock vast quantities of perennial grasses as a viable feedstock, accelerating the aviation industry's transition away from fossil fuels and toward its net-zero emissions targets.

flying.flights is your source for accurate commercial aviation news and global aviation updates. For airline finances, mergers, and industry strategy, visit the Business category at flying.flights/business.