A (single-stage) catalyst for change
August 29, 2024
With UK SAF innovator OXCCU having recently opened its first official demonstration plant, Aerospace Global News caught up with the Oxford University spin-out to find out more about the company’s unique method of SAF production.
Describing the impetus behind the UK SAF startup as “the huge need for hydrocarbons, even in a net zero world,” the “recognition that biofuels can’t get you all the way alone” prompted OXCCU to take a new approach to producing sustainable aviation fuel. “We’re all about simplifying the process,” elaborated OXCCU founder and CEO Andrew Symes; explaining that OXCCU’s patented process has received worldwide media attention since the company published its first paper in 2020.
Choosing Oxford Airport
OXCCU recently celebrated the opening of its OX1 demonstration plant based at Oxford Airport (situated some 60 miles from central London), designed to produce a kg of ‘OXEFUEL’ a day when operations commence next month. As well as being close to the company’s roots, the location – described by Symes as “a very progressive airport” – shares values similar to the company’s own (and, incidentally, has been offering SAF for purchase since May 2024).
With the airport currently home to a number of programmes including pilot training, OXCCU’s presence is key to highlighting the sustainability incentives that will allow aviation to continue evolving. Acknowledging that the industry faces differing perspectives (to either continue expanding the benefits and opportunities aviation provides, or else cease flying altogether), “hopefully what we’re doing here is giving people hope that there is a pathway to chart between those two views,” revealed Symes.
A single-stage process
“We see biofuel as being critical to achieving the targets the aviation industry wants to hit, but at the moment the barrier is cost,” continued Symes, adding that OXCCU’s priority is to reduce the cost of power-to-liquid (PtL) SAF production pathways. Whilst unconstrained by the same feedstock supply constraints as HEFA-produced products, PtL’s current problem is cost constraints; something solveable through technological breakthroughs.
Crucially, what sets OXCCU apart from other PtL producers is its unique patented process for transforming CO2 and hydrogen to long-chain hydrocarbons. “We have the same two steps happening but they’re both happening on the same surface catalyst in the same reactor,” Symes explained. “That’s a breakthrough because you’ve reduced the capital costs – you’ve only brought one reactor versus two – and also the operational costs improve as well, because the overall reaction releases heat” (thereby eliminating the need for a huge energy input in the first step).
So why haven’t competitors seized a similar novel technology? Symes believes that others will follow – although at the moment, other competitors are more focused on existing processes (which will work, albeit at higher fiscal cost). It’s also a relatively new concept – “up until recently people weren’t looking at using CO2… but ultimately we have the patent and we’re first to it,” he added.
Mandates crucial to price parity
OXCCU’s OX1 facility will be used to inform the design and construction of its 160kg/day OX2 plant at Saltend Chemical Park Hull, to be operational in 2026, with subsequent commercial-scale facilities to follow. Having completed a Series A funding round in 2023 (complemented by a 2024 £2.8 million grant through the UK government-backed Advanced Fuels Fund), the company intends to initiate another fundraise early next year (despite the “fairly challenging environment right now”).
Citing the UK government as “so far doing a good job within a difficult task” regarding wider public education surrounding sustainable fuels, Symes believes that responsibility “falls on everyone” although in reality, the burden is on the sector to “demonstrate to people that this is real”.
However, to really enable PtL to receive the funding and investment it deserves, national mandates are crucial, continued Symes; highlighting that “without picking winners,” it’s important for governments such as the UK to set a mandate encouraging PtL whilst also allowing space for HEFA-produced and waste-based fuels. OXCCU also believes that the current mandate’s aspiration for PtL-produced SAF post-2040 isn’t ambitious enough. “Let’s get that in law, let’s get that going, and that really helps the industry start off,” he added.
As regards price parity, a carbon tax could also be critical, Symes concluded. “SAF should come down in price significantly over time, thanks to breakthroughs like ours, but also reductions in the hydrogen costs as industry scales, and more CO2 captured.” However, can SAF prices ever compete with the global oil-producing powerhouses? “No, not without a carbon tax,” he mused. However, with such incentives in place – alongside reductions in the cost of CO2 and hydrogen, alongside process improvements – “yes, there’s a good reason to believe it can start competing in the future”.
