‘World’s First’ Sustainable Aviation Fuel Project to be Built at Saltend......

Plans are now in place to build a state-of-the-art First-of-a-Kind demonstration plant at px Group’s Saltend Chemicals Park in the heart of the UK’s energy estuary.

px Group has announced that OXCCU will develop a First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) demonstration plant at its Saltend Chemicals Park in the Humber that will convert carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

px Group and OXCCU have announced a groundbreaking project that will convert carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel.

OXCCU is a leading carbon-to-value company that develops catalysts and processes to convert carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into fuels, chemicals and plastics.

The climate-tech spin-out from the University of Oxford has demonstrated the world’s first direct carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation process, turning CO2  directly into aviation fuel range hydrocarbons, also known as SAF, with minimal oxygenate byproducts. 

The project presents a novel approach to SAF production simplifying a multi-step process to a single step.

OXCCU will now build a First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) demonstration plant at Saltend Chemicals Park, which will be fed by biogenic carbon dioxide, and green hydrogen. The plant is expected to produce 160 kilos (200 litres) of liquid fuel per day, of which the majority will be SAF. The approach directly aligns with the Advanced Fuel Fund’s objective to use carbon dioxide as a carbon source for SAF production due to feedstock concerns at scale with the other biofuel SAF routes. 

UK Government release aviation SAF plan to support growth of British aviation sector........

SAF industry estimated to boost the economy by £1.8 billion and create more than 10,000 jobs across the UK by 2030

The UK Department for Transport government's new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate sets new targets to ensure that 10% of all jet fuel in aircraft taking off from the UK comes from sustainable sources by 2030. 

The UK’s SAF mandate will come into force in January 2025 and be one of the first in the world to be put into law, subject to approval by parliament. The move follows the world’s first commercial 100% SAF transatlantic flight taking off from Heathrow in November – backed by up to £1 million in government investment.

The government has committed to ambitious but achievable targets that will see around 1.2 million tonnes of SAF supplied to the UK airline industry each year – enough to circle the globe 3,000 times.  The plans are good for aviation, the environment and for the UK overall with the SAF industry estimated to add over £1.8 billion to the economy and create over 10,000 jobs across the country. 

£135 million of funding was recently allocated through the Advanced Fuels Fund, with the aim of supporting the growth of 13 groundbreaking SAF projects across the UK. 

It is recognised that SAF is likely to be more expensive than traditional jet fuel, at least in the immediate term, the plan ensures decarbonisation doesn’t come at the expense of consumers as the rationing of flights through ‘demand management’ is ruled out in the plan. 

The plan includes a review mechanism to help manage prices and minimise the impact on ticket fares for passengers. The government also has the power to change key limits within the mandate to block higher price rises in the case of SAF shortages – keeping the impact on consumers to a minimum. 

Providing sufficient SAF is available, any increases in air fares as a result of SAF will fall well within the range of usual fluctuations in prices we see every year and the government have plans in place to prevent any major hikes.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:      "Sustainable aviation fuel protects the future of UK aviation, the thousands of British jobs that depend on it, and the holidays and business travel flights that we all rely on.

 As part of our plan to grow the economy, the measures announced today will give both UK aviation and the UK SAF industry the certainty they need to keep creating skilled British jobs while giving passengers the freedom to continue travelling by air in a way that’s fit for the future."

SAF produces up to 70% less carbon emissions than the traditional fossil fuels used in most commercial flights. It is made from waste materials or by-products – like household waste, industrial gases or used cooking oil.

A significant milestone in the transition to decarbonising the aviation sector has been made this week.......

Photo by Arno Senoner on Unsplash

OXCCU, a spinout from Oxford University, has revolutionised the process of creating sustainable, economically efficient, and scalable Jet fuel in a groundbreaking one-step process.

SAF is the future of the aviation industry, and OXCCU is at the forefront of this transformation. Their technology not only addresses the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector but also offers a commercially viable solution that aligns with the global sustainability agenda. The OXCCU process is unique amongst other SAF products in Europe due to its one-step technology, which can produce high-value jet fuel at scale.

OXCCU’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is called OXEFUEL, created by combining captured carbon dioxide and renewably sourced green hydrogen using a novel iron-based catalyst. This innovative process results in a more cost-effective and decarbonised alternative to fossil-based Jet A fuel for commercial air travel. OXEFUEL has been independently tested and verified in collaboration with Imperial College London, finding that the novel process reduces the capital cost by 50%.

Following the recent announcement from Chee Hong Tat at the Changi Aviation Summit on the eve of the Singapore Airshow, that the country aims for a 1% SAF target from 2026 and plans to raise it to 3-5% by 2030, OXCCU’s Co-Founder and CEO, Andrew Symes said: "Singapore's decision to mandate the use of SAF for all departing flights by 2026, with plans to reach 3-5% usage by 2030, is a significant milestone in the transition to decarbonising the aviation sector. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has signalled operational readiness for SAF, setting a precedent for other nations to follow suit.

With the EU leading the way with RefuelEU, we're now seeing other countries and regions, this time notably in Asia, recognising the importance of legislation to achieve aviation emissions targets. This decision amplifies the message that transitioning to SAF is a necessity rather than a choice.

Increasing SAF supply through technologies such as OXCCU will be pivotal to achieving the mandates as we move away from petroleum-based jet fuel."

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OXCCU scores £2.8 Million UK Government grant to scale sustainable aviation fuel production

OXCCU secures share of UK government investment to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel 

OXCCU, a leading carbon-to-value company converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into industrial and consumer products, has won a £2.8 million grant along with the University of Sheffield Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) and Coryton. The capital will be used to demonstrate the world’s first direct carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation process, turning CO2  directly into aviation fuel range hydrocarbons, also known as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).    

The project presents a novel approach to SAF production, directly converting CO2  and hydrogen (H2) to hydrocarbons - essentially creating jet fuel from thin air. OXCCU technology means that this traditionally multi-step process has been simplified to just a single step. A truly British innovation, the reactor will be located at the TERC and fed with biogenic CO2  captured from biomass combustion and H2  produced on site from electrolysis using green electricity. The fuel is then blended via Coryton to produce a fuel of Jet A-1 specification. 

As part of its aim to cement the UK’s status as a world leader in SAF, last month the UK Government announced new measures to support the industry, with a revenue certainty scheme to boost uptake and help create jobs. The Government has committed to having at least five commercial SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025, viewing low or zero emission technologies as key to sustainability and net zero targets. 

Aviation still needs hydrocarbons but to achieve net zero, they need to be created without the use of fossil fuels. Traditional biofuels have well-known issues with scale due to limited feedstocks. In contrast, e-fuels or synthetic fuels based on CO2 have enormous potential to scale with fewer feedstock constraints but face challenges due to cost. OXCCU's patented technology consolidates the traditional e-hydrocarbons production process from two-steps, Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) then Fischer-Tropsch, to a one-step direct hydrogenation process. This offers a radically cost-effective solution and opens up intriguing opportunities for the future of commercial aviation.

OXCCU CEO Andrew Symes said: “We’re proud to be part of the UK’s journey to cement itself as a leader in clean aviation and to help scale world-first technologies in sustainable aviation fuel. This new investment from the AFF will be a welcome contribution to our efforts to help the industry meet the high targets it has set.”

Available to customers as OXEFUEL, OXCCU’s sustainable aviation fuel is created by combining captured carbon dioxide and renewably-sourced green hydrogen through a novel iron-based catalyst, resulting in a more cost-effective and decarbonized alternative to fossil-based Jet A fuel for commercial airlines. Modelling completed by independent researchers from Imperial College London, through Imperial Consultants, has shown OXCCU’s one-step process significantly reduces SAF cost due to higher selectivity yield in the jet fuel range and a 50% lower capital cost.  

Creating jet fuel from thin air........

OXCCU secures share of UK government investment to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel 

OXCCU, a leading carbon-to-value company converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into industrial and consumer products, has won a £2.8 million grant along with the University of Sheffield Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) and Coryton. The capital will be used to demonstrate the world’s first direct carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation process, turning CO2  directly into aviation fuel range hydrocarbons, also known as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).    

The project presents a novel approach to SAF production, directly converting CO2  and hydrogen (H2) to hydrocarbons - essentially creating jet fuel from thin air. OXCCU technology means that this traditionally multi-step process has been simplified to just a single step. A truly British innovation, the reactor will be located at the TERC and fed with biogenic CO2  captured from biomass combustion and H2  produced on site from electrolysis using green electricity. The fuel is then blended via Coryton to produce a fuel of Jet A-1 specification. 

As part of its aim to cement the UK’s status as a world leader in SAF, last month the UK Government announced new measures to support the industry, with a revenue certainty scheme to boost uptake and help create jobs. The Government has committed to having at least five commercial SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025, viewing low or zero emission technologies as key to sustainability and net zero targets. 

Aviation still needs hydrocarbons but to achieve net zero, they need to be created without the use of fossil fuels. Traditional biofuels have well-known issues with scale due to limited feedstocks. In contrast, e-fuels or synthetic fuels based on CO2 have enormous potential to scale with fewer feedstock constraints but face challenges due to cost. OXCCU's patented technology consolidates the traditional e-hydrocarbons production process from two-steps, Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) then Fischer-Tropsch, to a one-step direct hydrogenation process. This offers a radically cost-effective solution and opens up intriguing opportunities for the future of commercial aviation.

OXCCU CEO Andrew Symes said: “We’re proud to be part of the UK’s journey to cement itself as a leader in clean aviation and to help scale world-first technologies in sustainable aviation fuel. This new investment from the AFF will be a welcome contribution to our efforts to help the industry meet the high targets it has set.”

Available to customers as OXEFUEL, OXCCU’s sustainable aviation fuel is created by combining captured carbon dioxide and renewably-sourced green hydrogen through a novel iron-based catalyst, resulting in a more cost-effective and decarbonized alternative to fossil-based Jet A fuel for commercial airlines. Modelling completed by independent researchers from Imperial College London, through Imperial Consultants, has shown OXCCU’s one-step process significantly reduces SAF cost due to higher selectivity yield in the jet fuel range and a 50% lower capital cost.