OXCCU has become the first SAF firm to receive funding from the ATI Non-CO2 programme. £1.8 million was secured by OXCCU to investigate the non-CO2 effects of its synthetic crude ‘OXFUEL’. Financing on this scale is a first for an SAF company and marks a step forward in the future of the SAF sector. The project will receive a total of £3 million due to co-investment between July 2025 and June 2027. The research will also aim to support the development of lower-carbon, clean fuels.
What the Funding Supports: Investigating Non-CO₂ Climate Impacts of OXFUEL
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is a co-financer of the project. The project will investigate how SAF is produced using OXCCU’s novel F-T catalyst. The team will explore how the technology can potentially reduce the warming associated with non-CO2 effects of burning hydrocarbon fuel in a jet engine. Research will focus on soot particles, which can cause cloud formation and therefore contribute to global warming or cooling.
“Non-CO2 effects are an area of emerging science that could have substantial implications for climate strategy in aviation. This funding will provide critical insights as we work to validate and scale our OXFUEL product.” – Andrew Symes, CEO of OXCCU.
Technology Behind OXFUEL: One-Step CO₂-to-Jet-Fuel Conversion
OXCCU employs a single-step process to produce sustainable aviation fuel, utilising an iron-based catalyst that converts waste carbon into jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons through a single exothermic reaction. By eliminating intermediate stages, such as reverse water-gas shift or e-methanol synthesis, the method streamlines production and reduces operating costs.
OXCCU’s novel approach to SAF reduces the number of steps in processing, requires less hydrogen, and helps reduce operating costs. The approach was successfully validated at the OX1 demonstration plant at Oxford Airport in 2024, giving the company confidence to refine and scale its lower-cost, one-step CO₂-to-jet-fuel technology.
Role of the ATI Programme and UK Government Backing
The ATI Programme, delivered in partnership with the Aerospace Technology Institute, Department for Business and Trade, and Innovate UK (UK Research and Innovation. OXCCU’s £1.8 million grant represents the first SAF-focused award under the ATI Non-CO2 Programme, which builds upon the UK’s broader Aviation Non-CO2 Programme.
The funding exemplifies the government’s strategic commitment to accelerating industrial investment in technologies that reduce both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions across the aerospace sector. By supporting research into cleaner aviation fuels, the project directly contributes to the UK’s national strategy of achieving 10% SAF inclusion in jet fuel by 2030.
Next Steps: Scaling from Demonstration to Full Commercial Operations
Following successful validation of its technology at the OX1 demonstration plant at Oxford Airport in 2024, OXCCU is now focused on transitioning from demonstration to full-scale operations. The project, running from July 2025 to June 2027, aims to deepen research into minimising non-CO2 effects, advance stakeholder engagement, and progress accreditation efforts necessary for commercial deployment. The ATI Programme funding marks a significant step in this transition, enabling OXCCU to refine its lowest-cost pathways via direct hydrogenation of CO2 and solidify its position as a leader in SAF innovation as it moves toward full-scale commercial production.
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