OXCCU awarded funding to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel

By Tom Kilkelly

23 November 2023

Share

The Business Magazine article image for: OXCCU awarded funding to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel

The team at OXCCU

Oxford-based OXCCU, the carbon-to-value company that converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen into industrial and consumer products, has won a £2.8 million government grant along with the University of Sheffield Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) and Coryton.

The funds, which were granted by the UK government's Advanced Fuels Fund, 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).

OXCCU technology means that this traditionally multi-step process has been simplified to just a single step. The reactor will be located at TERC and fed with biogenic CO2 captured from biomass combustion and H2 produced on site from electrolysis using green electricity, fuel is then blended via partners Coryton to produce a fuel of Jet A-1 specification.

Visit Hampshire Biz News for bright, upbeat and positive business news from the county

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.

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 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.”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.