Gevo(GEVO) - 2023 Q1 - Quarterly Report

Net-Zero Projects - Gevo's initial Net-Zero Project (NZ1) is designed to produce approximately 65 million gallons per year of total hydrocarbon volumes, including 60 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) [136] - The installed cost for NZ1 is currently forecasted to be approximately $850 million, excluding certain contingencies and financing costs [138] - Gevo expects to finance NZ1 using a combination of its own capital and third-party capital, retaining a carried equity interest in the project [139] - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan application process for NZ1 is expected to carry into 2024, with the plant start-up date projected to occur 24 to 30 months after financing closes [140] - Gevo is evaluating several sites for its second Net-Zero Project (NZ2), focusing on existing ethanol plants for decarbonization opportunities [142] - The NZ1 project is forecasted to have an installed cost of approximately$850 million, with efforts underway to reduce projected spending prior to financial close from $100 million to$200 million [178][179] - The company allocated approximately $25 million for the development of its next Net-Zero Project, with$11 million spent to date and the remaining $14 million expected to be spent in the next four to six months [180] Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Initiatives - Gevo's RNG project in Iowa, developed to generate renewable natural gas from dairy cow manure, was financed with$68.16 million in Solid Waste Facility Revenue Bonds [145] - Gevo RNG project aims to produce approximately 400,000 MMBtu of RNG per year, with expected production levels for 2023 around 275,000-300,000 MMBtu [146] - Environmental attribute sales from RNG amounted to $3.5 million in Q1 2023, contributing to total revenues [158] Financial Performance - Total operating revenues for Q1 2023 reached$4.06 million, a significant increase of 1,650% compared to $232,000 in Q1 2022 [158] - RIN generation in Q1 2023 was 1,356, representing a 1,256$2.01, a decrease of 6% from $2.13 in Q4 2022 [155] - Operating expenses for Q1 2023 totaled$24.92 million, up from $16.19 million in Q1 2022, primarily due to increased production costs [158] - General and administrative expenses increased by$1.4 million to $X million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to personnel costs related to strategic projects [162] - Project development costs rose by$1.9 million to $X million during the same period, driven by increased personnel and consulting expenses [163] - Loss from operations increased by$4.9 million to $X million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, attributed to heightened activities for Net-Zero Projects [165] - Investment income increased by$2.8 million to $X million, primarily due to higher interest earned on cash equivalent investments [167] - Cash and cash equivalents totaled$342.3 million, with total liquidity (including restricted cash and marketable securities) amounting to $452.9 million as of March 31, 2023 [171] - Net cash used in operating activities was$19.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $12.5 million in the prior year [176] - Net cash provided by investing activities was$124.2 million, primarily from sales and maturities of marketable securities [177] Strategic Partnerships and Agreements - Gevo entered into a Side Agreement with Axens, potentially generating milestone payments of $50 million and royalty payments of at least$75 million [153] - A joint development agreement with LG Chem aims to develop bio-propylene, with LG Chem covering scale-up costs and making payments totaling $2.5 million [154] - The U.S. Department of Agriculture selected Gevo's Climate-Smart Farm to Flight proposal for funding, with a ceiling of up to$30 million [154] Industry Context and Demand - The global fuel consumption by commercial airlines has ranged from 52 billion gallons to 60 billion gallons in recent years, indicating strong demand for SAF [130] - The Biden administration aims to supply at least 3 billion gallons of SAF per year by 2030, with a long-term goal of meeting 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050 [132] - Delta Air Lines has committed to investing $1 billion through 2030 to mitigate emissions, highlighting the industry's focus on sustainability [132] - Gevo's SAF production process utilizes carbohydrates as feedstock, which are renewable and derived from photosynthesis, aiming for a net-zero carbon intensity across the product lifecycle [133] Facility Operations - Gevo's Luverne Facility transitioned to care and maintenance in 2022, focusing resources on Net Zero Projects and RNG initiatives [152]