LANZATECH UK LTD

Their core work

LanzaTech specializes in gas fermentation technology that converts carbon-rich industrial waste gases — particularly from steelmaking — into valuable bio-products such as ethanol. Their core capability lies at the intersection of industrial biotechnology and carbon capture, using biological processes (Clostridium-based fermentation) to turn pollution into fuel and chemicals. In H2020, they contributed to demonstrating this technology at industrial scale in steel plant settings, and to advancing the pathway from waste-gas-derived ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

LanzaTech's early H2020 involvement (2015) combined fundamental microbiology research (CLOSPORE) with industrial-scale demonstration of gas-to-ethanol conversion (STEELANOL). By the later period (2020 onward), their focus shifted downstream — FLITE takes the ethanol output and converts it into sustainable fuel, indicating a move from proving the core technology to commercializing the full value chain. The keyword emergence of "carbon capture and re-use" and "bio-products" in the recent period reflects an increasing emphasis on the climate and circular economy framing of their work.

LanzaTech is moving from demonstrating gas fermentation technology toward full commercialization of waste-carbon-to-fuel pathways, making them increasingly relevant for sustainable aviation fuel and industrial decarbonization projects.

How they like to work

LanzaTech has never coordinated an H2020 project, participating instead as a partner or third-party technology provider — consistent with a company bringing proprietary industrial biotech into larger consortia led by others. With 28 unique partners across 10 countries, they integrate into sizeable, multi-national consortia rather than leading small focused teams. This suggests they are best engaged as a specialist technology contributor who brings a specific, hard-to-replicate capability to a consortium.

LanzaTech has collaborated with 28 distinct partners across 10 countries through its three H2020 projects, indicating broad European reach for a company with a relatively small project portfolio. Their consortia span both academic research networks (CLOSPORE) and heavy industry partnerships (STEELANOL, FLITE).

What sets them apart

LanzaTech occupies a rare niche: they are one of very few companies in Europe with a proven biological gas fermentation platform that can convert industrial waste gases directly into ethanol and chemicals. This positions them as an essential partner for any consortium working on industrial decarbonization through carbon capture and utilization, particularly in the steel sector. Their technology bridges heavy industry and biotechnology — a combination few organizations can credibly offer.

Highlights from their portfolio

• STEELANOL
  Their largest funded project (EUR 1.1M), demonstrating industrial-scale conversion of steel mill off-gases to bioethanol — a flagship carbon utilization demonstration.
• FLITE
  A long-duration project (2020-2029) extending the value chain from ethanol to sustainable fuel, signaling LanzaTech's strategic move toward the aviation fuel market.