Partnerships Renewable Energy

Terviva Secures Strategic Partnership with Idemitsu Kosan

Terviva announces a strategic investment from Idemitsu Kosan aiming to accelerate the global production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Image provided by Terviva

Key Takeaways

  • Terviva, Inc. announces a strategic investment from Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, aiming to accelerate the global production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
  • A trial pongamia plantation in Queensland, Australia, will explore pongamia’s potential as a feedstock for SAF using HEFA technology.
  • Terviva’s proprietary pongamia trees offer high oil yields and a low-carbon footprint, supported by 15 years of research and trials across the U.S. and Australia.
  • Idemitsu aims to produce 250,000 kL of SAF annually at its Tokuyama Complex by FY2028.

What is the focus of Terviva and Idemitsu’s partnership?

Terviva (Profile), an agricultural innovation company specializing in pongamia cultivation for food, feed, and fuel, has announced a strategic partnership with Idemitsu Kosan, a Japanese energy company. This collaboration will establish a trial pongamia plantation in Queensland, Australia, in partnership with Stanmore, an Australia-based coal resource company.

The partnership leverages Terviva’s scalable tree production technology and Idemitsu’s expertise in fuel production to accelerate the global production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Terviva’s pongamia technology ensures high yields for farmers while creating a robust end market for pongamia-derived oil.


How will pongamia be used in SAF production?

Pongamia oil is recognized as a suitable feedstock for SAF using HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology. Through the trial plantation, Idemitsu aims to explore growing pongamia in non-traditional areas and optimize the supply chain for SAF production. The trial will also assess other potential applications of pongamia, including:

  • Generating carbon credits through afforestation.
  • Producing black pellets from pongamia shells for biomass power plants.
  • Using pressed seed pomace as livestock feed.

Idemitsu’s goal is to establish a supply system capable of producing 500,000 kL of SAF annually, with 250,000 kL produced at its Tokuyama Complex by FY2028.


What makes Terviva’s pongamia technology unique?

Terviva’s pongamia genetics are the result of 15 years of research and trials conducted over nearly 2,000 acres in the U.S. and Australia. The company’s elite cultivars can produce three or more metric tons of beans per acre, which have a high oil content. The beans are processed to produce oil for biofuels, offering a low-cost and low-carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

Naveen Sikka, founder and CEO of Terviva, commented: “Our pongamia genetics have been proven through extensive field trials, using proprietary data analytics and farming techniques to drive maximal yield, minimize cost, and promote sustainable cultivation. We are eager to support Idemitsu’s goals to advance sustainable fuel solutions.”


What is Idemitsu’s vision for SAF production?

Idemitsu Kosan aims to secure sustainable raw materials for long-term SAF production. Recognizing pongamia’s high-yielding potential, the company is focusing on it as a key feedstock for HEFA technology. This trial plantation will provide valuable insights for future commercial-scale pongamia cultivation.

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