The investment arm of United Airlines, United Airlines Ventures, has announced an investment in California-based chemical technology company, Twelve. The investment will help Twelve continue its efforts to develop new low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel.
This investment by United Airlines Ventures is not an unpredictable one, as it comes from their designated Sustainable Flight Fund, allied with contributions from partners such as GE Aerospace, Embraer, Google, and several airlines.
The fund’s sole purpose is to invest and support companies focusing on the production, research and technological advancements needed to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and more importantly, scale it for the industry as a whole.
United have set clear commitments and goals to help the aviation industry go green. Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures, said:
“Scaling the SAF industry is the major hurdle air travel needs to clear in order to increase the supply and reduce the price of lower carbon fuels. Twelve has differentiated themselves through the capital they have raised and the SAF contracts they have secured, providing them with the flexibility to commercialize their technology and grow their operations expediently.”
This new investment by United, follows an impressive period of growth and investment for Twelve. Twelve’s $83 million Series C funding round and project financing will see them now build their first SAF production facility which, once production begins this year, will produce up to 50,000 gallons of SAF annually.
Nicholas Flanders, Twelve’s co-founder and CEO, highlighted the partnership’s significance:
“United’s investment accelerates our transition from innovation to implementation. With AirPlant One launching soon, we’re creating a scalable pathway to carbon-neutral aviation that meets both operational and environmental goals.”
This exciting collaboration underscores United’s commitment to creating sustainability in the aviation industry and an investment in Twelve’s mission of decarbonisation could go a long way to change the state of the aviation fuel industry for the better.
As a self-proclaimed carbon transformation company, Twelve’s mission is to build a world made from air. In this new world, CO2 won’t be a waste, but will be a resource for life’s essentials. Twelve was founded in 2015 by Dr Etosha Cave, Dr Kendra Kuhl, and Nicholas Flanders.
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