Why was Lanzatech founded in 2005?
LanzaTech was founded in early 2005 with a vision to be a dominant technology provider in the industrial bio-commodities arena. Our goal was simple: to develop and commercialize proprietary technologies for the production of low-carbon fuels that do not compromise food or land resources.
What encouraged you to join them in 2010?
The ability to convert waste resources to fuel is key to meeting today’s rapidly growing energy needs. LanzaTech has demonstrated technology for the fermentation of waste gases to fuels using raw steel mill gases. This is a tremendous achievement and shows a robust process which is extensible to other waste gas streams. I believe that this technology can become the cornerstone of the emerging gas fermentation sector and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the team at LanzaTech.
Do you think Lanzatech’s innovations can change the way we source fuel?
Yes, the global energy landscape needs to change if we are to meet energy demand. With global primary energy demand expected to grow at CAGR >1.6%, mitigation of GHG emissions despite global population and GDP growth is imperative. LanzaTech sees itself as providing a strategically important route to renewable fuels and chemicals that is economically, socially and environmentally sound with potentially world changing effects.
How does it feel running a relatively small New Zealand company that can have such a huge impact on the world?
We see LanzaTech as a global company. LanzaTech’s technology can deploy in all regions across the globe. The domestic and international strategies that LanzaTech are pursuing are aligned, in that the technology can be tailored to suit particular regions making the most efficient use of locally available resources for its process. To be part of any company that can have a real material impact on our energy future, if of course tremendously exciting.
What have been the biggest set-backs for Lanzatech to date?
There have been no major setbacks to date. A key factor for any small company in the pre-revenue stages is capital-ensuring that we maintain momentum on our technology development without running out of funds is something that is not necessarily a setback, but something that we need to work through. From a technology perspective, we see challenges, rather than setbacks-in the areas of scaling up the technology. So far we have been able to work through these and learn, however, we are keenly aware of the potential for setting us back if we don’t address these challenges head on.
And the biggest boosts?
LanzaTech now has partnerships in place with 7 Global Fortune 500 companies, including 2 of the top 3 steel companies in the world. We have expanded significantly over the last few years to now include offices in Shanghai and Chicago. The construction of our demonstration facility in China with Baosteel, China’s largest steel producer is also a great achievement.
Most recently LanzaTech announced a partnership with Virgin Atlantic whereby ethanol produced through our process will be converted to jet fuel (through partner technology) and that jet fuel will be used on Virgin flights from 2014.
