OXCCU has announced the launch of its first demonstration plant, OX1, located at Oxford Airport. The OX1 plant is a significant advancement in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with the potential to reduce the cost and environmental impact of air travel.
The OX1 plant utilizes a novel catalyst and reactor design, developed over a decade of research at the University of Oxford, to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for use as SAF. The facility is designed to produce 1 kg (~1.2 litres) of liquid fuel per day and is expected to start operations in September.
The OX1 plant is the first demonstration of the direct conversion of CO2 and H2 to jet fuel range hydrocarbons in a single step with minimal oxygenated byproducts. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the energy and cost required to produce SAF.
The OX1 plant is a key milestone in OXCCU’s strategic scale-up journey, providing critical data for the design, build, and operations of larger-scale commercial plants. The company plans to operate a second plant, OX2, with a capacity of 160 kg (200 litres) per day at Saltend Chemical Park Hull in 2026, followed by commercial plants supplying the UK and other markets.
Andrew Symes, CEO of OXCCU, stated: “We’re beyond excited to launch the OX1 plant, located close to where OXCCU was born. The fuel we’ve already made in a single step from CO2 in the lab has created great excitement with its potential to massively reduce the cost of SAF, but the scale up is key, and this plant will generate the data and litres of fuel we need. Our mission is to enable future generations to fly without a climate impact, and to do that we need cost-effective PtL SAF. This launch marks a key step in achieving that goal.”
The OXCCU OX1 plant represents a significant innovation in the production of SAF, with the potential to reduce the environmental impact of air travel while also providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
