United Airlines announced an investment in carbon transformation-focused cleantech company Twelve, supporting the company’s initiatives to turn CO2 into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using renewable energy.
Founded in 2015, California-based Twelve produces chemicals, materials, and fuels from captured CO2 combined with water. The process is powered by renewable energy and produces water and oxygen as byproducts. According to Twelve, its SAF has the potential to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional jet fuel.
The investment was made via the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund. Launched in 2023, the fund invests in and supports startups focused on research, technology and production processes, aimed at supporting the scaling of SAF supply. The fund comprises more than $200 million in investment commitments from United and its corporate partners, including Embraer, GE Aerospace, Google, and numerous airlines. United has set a goal to fully reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without relying on carbon offsets.
Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures, said:
“Scaling the SAF industry is the major hurdle air travel needs to clear in order to increase the supply and reduce the price of lower carbon fuels. Twelve has differentiated themselves through the capital they have raised and the SAF contracts they have secured, providing them with the flexibility to commercialize their technology and grow their operations expediently.”
The new investment follows Twelve’s $83 million Series C funding round and project financing for its first SAF production facility, AirPlant One, located in Moses Lake, Washington. The facility, set to begin production this year, will produce 50,000 gallons of drop-in SAF annually, Twelve said.
Nicholas Flanders, co-founder & CEO of Twelve, said:
“United’s Sustainable Flight Fund’s investment reinforces our momentum at a pivotal moment as we move from innovation to implementation. With AirPlant One launching imminently and a strong collaboration with United, we’re not just envisioning the decarbonization of air travel—we’re actively building it. Because we have the capability to deliver our E-Jet sustainable aviation fuel at scale, Twelve is proudly creating a realistic pathway to carbon-neutral aviation that meets both operational demands and climate goals.”
