United Airlines this week announced an investment in Twelve, an innovative low-carbon fuels company that uses a process similar to photosynthesis to transform Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and water into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using renewable energy. This investment by the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund follows Twelve’s US$83 million (about N$1.5 billion at current exchange rates) Series C funding round and project financing for its first SAF production facility, AirPlant One. 

The facility is expected to begin production this year, and plans to produce 50 000 (some 190 000 litres) gallons of SAF annually.

Last year, Twelve secured a SAF purchase agreement with a large European-based airline company. Under the 14-year contract, Twelve will supply 260 million gallons of SAF to support 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.

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

“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,” said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures. “Twelve has differentiated themselves through the capital they have raised and the SAF contracts they have secured, providing them with the flexibility to commercialise their technology and grow their operations expediently.”

“United’s Sustainable Flight Fund’s investment reinforces our momentum at a pivotal moment as we move from innovation to implementation,” said Nicholas Flanders, co-founder & CEO of Twelve. “With AirPlant One launching imminently and a strong collaboration with United, we’re not just envisioning the decarbonisation of air travel—we’re actively building it. Because we have the capability to deliver our E-Jet sustainable aviation fuel at scale, Twelve is proudly creating a realistic pathway 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 basic building blocks that make fuels, plastics and other materials. By using renewable electricity, captured carbon and water, the process reduces the reliance on fossil fuels, lowering lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, including the emissions associated with the production of fuels and in manufacturing.

The UAV Sustainable Flight Fund is a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle designed to leverage support from cross-industry businesses in order to support start-ups focused on decarbonising air travel. The fund is comprised of more than US$200 million in investment commitments from United and numerous corporate partners.