OXCCU Advances Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production from Waste Carbon

OXCCU, developing the world’s lowest cost, lowest emission pathways to make SAF from waste carbon, led by Andrew Symes, Dr Tiancun Xiao, Dr Benzhen Yao, Nacho Gimenez, Dr Jane Jin, Prof. Peter Edwards, and others, has secured $28 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round from new investors Orlen VC, Safran Corporate Ventures, International Airlines Group (IAG), Hostplus, and TCVC, alongside continued support from existing backers Clean Energy Ventures, IP Group/Kiko Ventures, Aramco Ventures, Eni Next, Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford.

The funding will accelerate OXCCU’s commercialisation, expand operations, and drive the next phase of technology scale-up. It builds on the 2024 launch of the OX1 demonstration plant at London Oxford Airport, with the second plant, OX2, set to be fully operational in 2026. Amid growing regulatory support and market demand for sustainable fuels, high production costs continue to challenge widespread adoption.

OXCCU’s technology tackles one of aviation’s biggest hurdles: high SAF production costs. Its patented iron-based catalyst enables the direct synthesis of jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons from waste carbon in a single exothermic reaction, eliminating complex intermediate steps. This approach lowers capital and operating costs while reducing fuel carbon intensity. The catalyst also adapts to a variety of feedstocks, reformed biogas, gasified wood waste, or pure CO₂ with hydrogen, making SAF production more flexible and efficient.

OXCCU’s technology addresses both environmental and commercial needs, with applications extending beyond aviation into chemicals and plastics.