Sora Fuel, a startup developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using only water, air, and renewable energy, has announced a $6 million seed funding round. The Engine Ventures led the investment, with Wireframe Ventures and other participants contributing. The funding will be used to expand the company’s Boston-based team, develop commercial partnerships, and further advance its novel technology.
The aviation industry has experienced significant growth since the 1960s, with emissions quadrupling. As demand for air travel continues to rise, sustainable aviation fuel will play a crucial role in reducing emissions. However, existing production processes are constrained by high energy requirements, limited feedstocks, and high costs.
Sora Fuel offers an alternative approach by capturing and utilizing atmospheric CO2 at a lower cost than existing processes. The company’s technology includes a liquid bicarbonate electrolyzer that delivers direct air capture (DAC) CO2 at a cost of $20 per ton. The closed-loop system uses only water and renewable electricity to produce syngas, eliminating the need for feedstocks and reducing energy inputs.
“Sora Fuel’s technology eliminates 90% of the energy currently required in standard DAC processes, opening up an entirely new and more sustainable path for producing carbon negative fuels,” said Gareth Ross, co-founder and CEO of Sora Fuel. “Our patented, closed-loop system enables the direct generation of an economical product and overcomes widespread feedstock constraints, allowing us to produce SAF at prices comparable to current Jet A fuel.”
