Circularity Fuels has achieved a breakthrough by converting biogas from a California dairy farm waste into syngas, a key precursor to SAF. The company used its compact electric Ouro Reactor, which costs just one-hundredth the amount of traditional reformers, to demonstrate this process successfully.
This milestone marks a significant advancement in renewable fuel economics, offering a way for airlines to meet mandates for SAF while creating new revenue streams for farmers. America’s large livestock operations generate nearly a trillion pounds of manure annually, yet less than 6% of these farms capture biogas from waste decomposition. Circularity’s innovation unlocks this untapped resource.
The proprietary Ouro Reactor processed raw biogas from a working dairy farm’s lagoon digester, converting methane and carbon dioxide into valuable fuel components. Unlike traditional reformers costing millions and requiring complex infrastructure, the Ouro Reactor uses automotive-industry components, making it affordable and scalable.
Dr. Stephen Beaton, CEO and Founder of Circularity Fuels, explained, “Farmers worldwide hold a goldmine in waste, and we’re enabling them to turn this into profitable, renewable fuel for airlines.”
The demonstration was the first to electrically reform farm biogas into jet-fuel precursors without combustion. It used proven catalysts and standard electrical connections. It also managed contaminants common in agricultural biogas, which damage traditional reformers.
This technology addresses airline industry demands, as current SAF production meets less than 1% of demand. The syngas can be converted into jet fuel via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, transforming carbon into liquid hydrocarbons.
Circularity’s compact system reduces reforming costs from millions to tens of thousands of dollars, enabling on-site fuel production at large farms. This approach eliminates the need for pipelines, allowing fuel transportation by truck or rail.
If adopted nationwide, this technology could produce 42 million gallons of SAF daily, covering 70% of U.S. jet fuel needs.
