Carbon-to-value company OXCCU has launched OX1, the world’s first plant dedicated to producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Oxford Airport, UK.

Stemming from over a decade of research at the University of Oxford, the OX1 plant uses a novel catalyst and reactor design to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen directly into long-chain hydrocarbons in a single step, a process that traditionally involves multiple stages. 

The project aims to reduce the cost of Power-to-Liquid (PtL) SAF production, a critical barrier to widespread adoption.

Set to commence operations in September 2024, the OX1 plant will produce around 1.2 litres of liquid fuel per day. 

It will serve as a precursor to a larger facility, OX2, scheduled to operate in 2026 at Saltend Chemical Park in Hull, aiming to produce 200 litres of SAF per day. These efforts are part of OXCCU’s strategic plan to scale up and provide cost-effective SAF solutions globally.

Andrew Symes, CEO of OXCCU, said, “We’re beyond excited to launch the OX1 plant, located close to where OXCCU was born. The fuel we’ve already made in a single step from CO2 in the lab has created great excitement with its potential to massively reduce the cost of SAF, but the scale up is key, and this plant will generate the data and litres of fuel we need. Our mission is to enable future generations to fly without a climate impact, and to do that we need cost-effective PtL SAF. This launch marks a key step in achieving that goal.”

SAF offers environmental benefits over traditional jet fuel, particularly in its ability to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Unlike conventional fossil-based jet fuels, SAF is derived from renewable resources such as waste oils, agricultural residues, and even CO2, significantly reducing the aviation sector’s carbon footprint.

In the UK, several key SAF projects are underway, including the OX1 plant by OXCCU and British Airways’ partnership with Velocys to develop a facility that will convert household waste into jet fuel. 

Globally, the United States has seen advancements with United Airlines’ collaboration with Fulcrum BioEnergy to produce SAF, and Germany’s Sunfire GmbH is pioneering synthetic fuels through its power-to-liquid technology.