Avina selects Southwest Illinois for US$820m SAF investment

The investment will enable Avina to develop its facility in Southwest Illinois to produce SAF, helping meet Illinois’ clean energy goals and supporting the state’s growing clean energy economy.

Illinois is proud to be a leader in the nation’s clean energy industry, and we’ve seen record growth over the past few years as companies choose to relocate to or expand across our state. Avina Clean Hydrogen’s new SAF production facility will support our ambitious goals for a clean energy economy by substantially reducing carbon emissions and creating new jobs for Southwest Illinois, said Governor JB Pritzker in a statement.

Environmental and economic benefits

In addition to environmental benefits, the project is expected to create 157 full-time jobs and support 1,000 construction jobs, providing significant employment opportunities in Southwest Illinois.

Avina Clean Hydrogen’s investment is supported by the state’s Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) program, which provides competitive incentives to clean energy projects in Illinois.

This project also aligns with the 2024 Economic Growth Plan, which prioritizes clean energy production and sustainable manufacturing as key drivers of Illinois’ economic future.

Clean energy production and advanced manufacturing are two key growth sectors in Illinois. This state-of-the-art facility will provide job opportunities for hardworking Illinoisans and aligns with the state’s continued efforts to create a cleaner economic ecosystem, said Kristin Richards, Director of DCEO.

Strategic location

The new facility will take advantage of Southwest Illinois’ existing rail and pipeline infrastructure, ensuring efficient delivery of SAF to major airports in the Midwest, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

Leveraging KBR’s alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) technology, the facility will produce up to 120 million (US) gallons (≈ 454.2 million litres of ASTM-certified SAF annually, offering a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

The facility is expected to prevent 25 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually over its operational lifespan, a monumental step toward achieving global emissions reduction targets.

We are thrilled to bring this groundbreaking SAF production facility to Southwest Illinois. This project underscores our commitment to pioneering clean fuel solutions that reduce carbon emissions, support job creation, and advance the state’s clean energy economy. With the support of Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), this facility will position Illinois as a key player in the growing sustainable aviation fuel market, said Vishal Shah, Founder & CEO of Avina Clean Hydrogen.