LanzaTech Global Inc., an Illinois-based leader in waste conversion technology, has signed a master license agreement with Japan’s Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. to scale a jointly developed platform that converts syngas from municipal and industrial solid waste into ethanol.
Sekisui plans to establish multiple facilities across Japan, incorporating LanzaTech’s technology packages, engineering expertise, and advisory services. These plants will use waste-to-ethanol technology to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while converting waste into valuable resources.
Futoshi Kamiwaki, Sekisui’s senior managing executive officer, said, “This agreement marks a critical step toward commercializing our joint technology, aligning with Sekisui’s vision for a low-carbon, sustainable future.”
The first commercial plant is projected to produce 10,000 to 12,000 metric tons of ethanol annually, which will be converted into synthetic alcohol for use in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other chemical applications like packaging and apparel production.
Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, added, “Our collaboration with Sekisui is creating a platform that not only reduces waste but also generates sustainable feedstocks and local jobs, helping municipalities achieve a circular economy.”
With Japan producing around 56 million tons of combustible waste annually, this partnership offers a major opportunity to divert waste from landfills and incinerators.
This new agreement builds on the success of earlier projects, including a 2017 pilot plant and a 2022 demonstration facility in Kuji City, Japan, with a capacity of 400 tons of ethanol annually.
LanzaTech’s biological platform gasifies waste and uses microbial fermentation to convert the gas into ethanol, offering a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuel feedstocks without the need for chemical catalysts or high-pressure processes.
Sekisui, which employs over 26,000 people across 170 companies worldwide, continues to focus on innovative solutions in sectors like interlayer films, foam products, and conductive materials.