- Twelve’s technology is an industrial alternative to photosynthesis, transforming carbon and water into inputs for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – the company recently entered one of the largest SAF contracts with a major European airline group for 260 million gallons.
- United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight FundSM continues to expand its investment portfolio with commercially advanced companies utilising proven energy pathways.
United has announced an investment in Twelve, an innovative low-carbon fuels company that uses a process similar to photosynthesis to convert CO₂ and water into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using renewable energy.
This investment by the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund follows Twelve’s £66 million Series C funding round and project financing for its first SAF production facility, AirPlant™ One, located in Moses Lake, Washington. The facility is expected to begin production this year and aims to produce 50,000 gallons of SAF annually.
Last year, Twelve secured a SAF purchase agreement with a major 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, highlights the demand for the company’s innovative technology and SAF.
The SAF that 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 overcome in order to increase supply and reduce the cost of lower-carbon fuels,” said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures®. “Twelve has set itself apart through the capital it has raised and the SAF contracts it has secured, providing the flexibility to commercialise its technology and expand operations swiftly.”
“United’s Sustainable Flight Fund 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 extracted from water into the basic building blocks that create fuels, plastics and other materials. By using renewable electricity, captured carbon, and water, the process reduces reliance on fossil fuels and cuts lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from fuel production and manufacturing.
UAV Sustainable Flight Fund
The UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM is a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle designed to leverage cross-industry support for start-ups focused on decarbonising air travel. The fund includes over $200 million in investment commitments from United and corporate partners including: Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Aircastle (a Marubeni & Mizuho Leasing Company), American Express Global Business Travel, Aviation Capital Group, Boeing, Boston Consulting Group, Embraer, GE Aerospace, Google, Groupe ADP, Hawaiian Airlines, HIS, Honeywell, JetBlue Ventures, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, Safran Corporate Ventures, and Technip Energies, among others. More information is available on the United Airlines Ventures website.
