Renewable energy company Vast Renewables specializing in concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) has joined forces with GGS Energy to develop a commercial-scale synthetic fuels project in the Southwest United States, known as Project Bravo.
This partnership aims to leverage Vast’s advanced CSP technology to generate clean heat and electricity, powering a co-located refinery that will produce green methanol and/or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
“CSP has the potential to unlock low-cost green fuel production in the US, and it can play a significant role in helping decarbonise shipping and aviation. We are delighted to have GGS Energy as a development partner to advance our plans in the U.S., which is a key market for Vast’s technology,” said Craig Wood, CEO of Vast.
Methanol, a hydrogen derivative, holds the potential to decarbonize aviation fuels when produced using clean energy sources. CSP technology, as demonstrated by Vast’s Solar Methanol 1 (SM1) project in Australia, can significantly reduce the cost of green fuel production.
eSAF, produced from renewable electricity, is crucial for reducing aviation emissions. The strong demand for both green methanol and e-SAF positions Project Bravo to attract long-term offtake contracts from global strategic partners.
Vast and GGS Energy will collaborate on various aspects of Project Bravo, including initial design, site selection, and feasibility assessments. The project is targeting a 550MWh CSP generation capacity, with further details to be announced as development progresses.
“GGS Energy is excited to partner with Vast and work to develop Project Bravo,” said Tommy Soriero from GGS Energy.
“This collaboration marks a significant step toward a sustainable future, harnessing advanced technology to produce low-cost green fuels. We are eager to combine our expertise and resources to ensure the success and impact of future innovative projects starting with Project Bravo.”