Japanese energy giant Idemitsu Kosan has partnered with California-based agriculture company Terviva to explore the use of pongamia as an oilseed feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. Pongamia—a legume tree native to eastern and tropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands—produces oil-rich seeds.
Terviva has developed high-yield varieties and proprietary technology for processing the seeds and utilizing and monetizing the product left over after oil extraction in various ways. Idemitsu, which has invested in Terviva, will leverage its fuel expertise to accelerate the development and adoption of pongamia-derived SAF using the HEFA production pathway. The two companies will team up with Stanmore, an Australian coal resource company, to establish a pilot plantation in Queensland, Australia, using Terviva’s high-yield pongamia cultivar.
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