United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund has invested in sustainable aviation fuel company Twelve, the carrier announced Tuesday. Financial and term details of the deal were not disclosed.
Twelve is a "low carbon fuels company that uses a process similar to photosynthesis to transform CO2 and water into sustainable aviation fuel using renewable energy," according to United.
The United investment follows Twelve's $83 million Series C funding round and project financing for its first SAF facility, AirPlant One, located in Moses Lake, Wash., which it projects to begin production this year. Twelve plans to produce 50,000 gallons of SAF annually, according to United.
Twelve's "power-to-liquid" process produces e-SAF by converting renewable electricity, water and carbon dioxide into synthetic liquid fuels that can be used in aviation.
In February 2024, Twelve signed a deal with International Airlines Group to supply 260 million gallons of SAF over a 14-year period to the group's five European airlines—British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Level.