Per MIT Technology Review, Twelve is a company to watch. They are commercializing a process to break down/reform CO2 into nearly any chemical now produced by fossil fuels. The company is producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) called E-Jet fuel, and is in talks to produce other products.
To accomplish this goal, Twelve developed a small electrochemical reactor called O12. The reactor takes CO2 from waste or the air, then the reactor uses a metal catalyst/electricity to split the CO2 and water and recombine the elements into different chemicals. In 2021, Twelve proved that its E-Jet fuel technology works in a pilot project with the U.S. Air Force.
Twelve’s products could be critical in reducing emissions from aviation, which accounts for 2% of global CO2 emissions. Most jet fuel is kerosene-based. In contrast, Twelve’s E-Jet fuel is an “electrofuel”, created through a process called carbon transformation. There are no limits on the availability of carbon and the process cuts emissions by the same amount each time. However, carbon transformation is energy-intensive and Twelve isn’t yet carbon neutral. Finding enough renewable energy/water to power company plants will remain challenging.
Twelve’s initial SAF production capacity is 5 barrels/day, but investments from companies like Microsoft, Shopify and Alaska Airlines, which see Twelve’s technology as key to reaching their sustainability goals, are supporting production costs and may help the company scale up production. The company is also supported by a mixture of tax credits/R&D grants from last year’s Inflation Reduction Act.
In July 2023, Twelve began construction of its first commercial-scale plant to convert CO2 into SAF, with the goal to produce 40,000 gallons/year by 2024. The company is also planning a larger E-Jet production facility.
The company has developed partnerships with multiple companies, including Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Mercedes-Benz and more to see whether they can replace core building blocks of popular products, including auto parts, sunglasses and detergent. Twelve is also planning the first commercial Alaskan Airlines flight powered by its E-Jet fuel and aims to announce more airline partnerships soon.
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