From air to fuel: United to invest in Twelve, a company dedicated to converting energy to liquid fuel

United announced an investment in Twelve, an innovative low-carbon fuel company that uses a photosynthesis-like process to transform CO2 and water into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using renewable energy.

This investment from United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund follows Twelve's $83 million Series C round and project financing for the company's first SAF production facility, AirPlant™ One, located in Moses Lake, Washington. The plant is expected to begin production this year and is projected to produce 50,000 gallons of SAF per year.

Last year, Twelve secured a SAF purchase agreement with a major European-based airline. Under this 14-year contract, Twelve will supply 260 million gallons of SAF to its five airlines. This long-term agreement, combined with the development of Twelve's first plant, underscores the demand for the company's innovative technology and SAF.

Twelve is expected to produce a lower-carbon alternative fuel once its plant is operational, with the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional jet fuel.

“The expansion of the SAF industry is the key hurdle air travel must overcome to increase supply and reduce the price of low-carbon fuels,” said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures®. “Twelve has differentiated itself through the capital it has already secured from the SAF contracts it has secured, giving it the flexibility to commercialize its technology and grow
its operations at an accelerated pace.”

“The investment from United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund strengthens our momentum at a pivotal moment as we move from innovation to implementation,” said Nicholas Flanders, co-founder and CEO of Twelve. “With the imminent launch of AirPlant One and a strong collaboration with United, we’re not just imagining the decarbonization of air travel, we’re actively building it. With the ability to supply our E-Jet® sustainable aviation fuel at scale, Twelve is proud to create a realistic path to carbon-neutral aviation that meets both operational demands and climate goals.”

Twelve's advanced technology uses renewable energy to combine carbon captured from the air and hydrogen obtained from water into the building blocks used to make fuels, plastics, and other materials. By using renewable electricity, captured carbon, and water, the process reduces dependence on fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, including those associated with fuel production and manufacturing.

Fuente: United Airlines.