Boeing has become an early investor in Wagner Sustainable Fuels to support the development of its sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production facility in Brisbane.
The facility is aimed at increasing Australian SAF supply and reducing aviation’s carbon emissions.
Boeing’s investment in the Wagner refinery is part of its strategy to support development of local SAF supply and expand global access to SAF.
SAF remains the most effective lever to decarbonize aviation by 2050.
SAF currently represents 0.1 percent of global jet fuel use despite it reducing CO2 emissions by up to 84 per cent compared to petroleum jet fuel.
“We’re proud to invest in this project because it will make a real difference in developing a SAF industry in Australia,” said Boeing’s sustainability lead for Australia and New Zealand, Kimberly Camrass.
“Accelerating local SAF supply enables Australia’s own climate goals and supports the global commercial aviation industry’s commitment of net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.”
Camrass said that SAF facilities such as Wagner’s new Brisbane strengthen Australia’s fuel security, because the country imports most of its liquid fuel.
“SAF facilities such as Wagner’s new Brisbane site also strengthen Australia’s fuel security, since the country currently imports 90 per cent of its liquid fuel including jet fuel, and the demand is expected to increase by 75 per cent towards 2050,” said Camrass.
Building on an initial Boeing-Wagner partnership announced in April, Boeing’s new investment will support an engineering study for the eventual construction of a SAF refinery.
The Brisbane facility will use waste-to-SAF technology that converts ethanol produced from waste-based feedstocks such as industrial waste into SAF.
Wagner Sustainable Fuels CEO Matt Doyle said the company’s partnership with Boeing to advance the refinery represents a commitment to the Australian SAF industry.
“The investment from the Queensland Government and Boeing will underpin Australia’s first, fully integrated SAF production facility,” said Doyle.
“It will create local jobs, contribute to fuel security and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from aviation.”
CSIRO and Boeing’s Sustainable Fuels Roadmap in 2023 identified that Australian SAF production contributes to sovereign fuel security and regional jobs.
“Domestic SAF production will be critical to decarbonising the aviation industry and Australia meeting its emissions reduction targets,” said chief sustainability officer at Qantas, Andrew Parker.
“We have a target of using 10 per cent SAF by 2030 and have invested in Queensland biofuel production through our $400 million Climate Fund.”
