OXCCU’s New Techno-Economic Report Shows Path to Cost-Effective, Scalable Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Monday 6 January, 2024—Oxford, UK—OXCCU, a leader in carbon-to-value innovation, has unveiled new techno-economic analysis detailing the transformative potential of its CO₂ Fischer-Tropsch (CO₂ F-T) technology for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The report outlines how OXCCU’s innovative catalyst and process reduces costs, enhances efficiency, and accelerates decarbonisation in the aviation sector.
Key findings from the report include:
- 50% Lower Capital Costs: OXCCU’s CO₂ F-T process exhibited approximately half the capital costs of conventional SAF production methods, such as Methanol-to-Jet (MTJ) or Reverse Water Gas Shift Fischer-Tropsch (RWGS+FT).
- 25% Reduction in Fuel Costs: OXCCU’s process enables SAF production at roughly 25% lower cost per tonne compared to traditional RWGS+FT methods, making e-SAF more economically viable.
OXCCU’s SAF, marketed under the brand OXEFUEL™, leverages a novel iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst which can work directly with CO2. It has high selectivity towards producing jet fuel range hydrocarbon syncrude in a single exothermic step, from which refined jet fuel can be easily made. Compared to other processes this means fewer steps and less hydrogen input per amount of jet fuel, meaning lower capital costs and lower operating costs, thus a lower cost Power-to-Liquid (PtL) SAF. In addition, OXCCU have shown they can comfortably meet the UK’s RFNBO GHG emission reduction threshold and can have the lowest GHG emissions of all the different processes. Other PtL routes have higher capital costs due to multiple steps, and higher operating costs due to a lower hydrogen efficiency.
Andrew Symes, Co-Founder and CEO of OXCCU, commented: “This report demonstrates the economic and environmental advantages of our CO₂ F-T technology, offering a clear pathway for the aviation industry to transition to greener fuel for commercial travel. We are proud to be developing a scalable, cost-effective solution to meet the urgent demand for sustainable fuels.”
PtL SAF produced through OXCCU’s process represents a transformative step in sustainable aviation. PtL SAF supports the global mission to decarbonise air travel and achieve net-zero emissions by synthesising jet fuel from captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen.
As the aviation sector works to meet net-zero targets, OXCCU’s approach provides a practical and impactful solution to overcome the economic and scale challenges facing traditional SAF production methods. By validating its technology at the OX1 demo plant in 2024, OXCCU is focused on developing the lowest cost PtL pathway via direct hydrogenation of CO2, eliminating the challenging RWGS step or the multiple steps if going via methanol. OXCCU aims to further the technology development in 2025/26 and have a commercial plant in operation by the end of this decade.
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About OXCCU TECH LTD
OXCCU, a spin-out company from the University of Oxford, is developing novel catalysts and reactor designs to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons with high conversion and selectivity for use as fuels, chemicals, and plastics. The company is headquartered in the UK, with operations at Begbroke Science Park, Oxford, and London Oxford Airport.
Media Contact:
UK: Lili Dewrance: lili@shift6studios.com
US: Melissa Tirey: melissa@shift6studios.com
