GranBio and RYAM partner to explore cellulosic SAF
In the United States (US), GranBio LLC, a pioneer in biochemicals and biofuels, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM), a global leader in cellulose specialty products, to jointly explore the development of a small-scale commercial cellulosic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility co-located at RYAM’s Jesup site, in Georgia (GA).
Under the agreement, GranBio will lead the proposed project to deploy its proprietary “AVAP” technology to convert lignocellulosic biomass into second-generation ethanol, which will be upgraded into SAF for sale to an offtaker.
The new facility would leverage RYAM’s infrastructure at the Jesup plant, including feedstock, utilities, and logistics. The project will be partially financed through GranBio’s US$100 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE).
In addition to advancing its strategic goal of maximizing value from existing assets, should the project proceed, RYAM would receive a license to GranBio’s latest-generation “Celer2L” yeast and AVAP technologies for ethanol and sugar production at its facility, in partnership with GranBio – a meaningful step in diversifying into high-growth biofuel and biochemical markets.
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, said De Lyle Bloomquist, President and CEO of RYAM.
This first-of-its-kind project marks a major milestone in GranBio’s strategic goal of systematically scaling up SAF production, with strong potential for replication.
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, said Luiz Oliveira, CEO of GranBio.
The due diligence is expected to conclude later this year, at which point both parties will determine next steps.
The MoU underscores both companies’ commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the development of next-generation biomaterials and biofuels.
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