Twelve Opens First Commercial US Plant for SAF from Captured CO2 in Washington State

carbonherald.com

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

Twelve has opened AirPlant One in Moses Lake, Washington, the first commercial-scale US facility producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from captured carbon dioxide, water, and renewable electricity. The plant makes E-Jet fuel, a drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel that meets ASTM standards and can be used in existing aircraft without modifications. Alaska Airlines plans to use the fuel on regular domestic flights, with support from Microsoft and Alaska Airlines through long-term offtake commitments. The facility also produces E-Naphtha, a low-carbon chemical feedstock for industrial products. Twelve says the power-to-liquid process can cut lifecycle emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil jet fuel, while avoiding land-use issues tied to bio-based SAF. The opening marks a milestone for the e-fuels sector and shows commercial viability for synthetic fuel production in the US.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

First commercial SAF plant from captured CO2 in the US. Twelve's AirPlant One is online in Washington. Alaska Airlines and Microsoft backed it. Power to liquid, not bio based. Curious how the economics compare to HEFA SAF.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

90% lower lifecycle emissions claim is the headline. But that depends on the carbon intensity of the renewable electricity used. Moses Lake has cheap hydro, so that helps. Still, scaling this beyond niche volumes will be the real test.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Moses Lake makes sense for the power side. Hydro backed and near wind. But the article doesn't give capacity numbers. How many gallons per year? Without that it's hard to say if this is a demo or a real commercial plant.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The offtake from Alaska Airlines and Microsoft is what got this financed. That's the pattern for e fuels right now. Without 45Q or similar credits the math would be much harder. Policy matters more than tech in this space.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Drop in fuel is the key phrase. Airlines don't want to change planes or pumps. If this really meets ASTM spec and scales, it avoids the infrastructure lock in problem. But the energy input per gallon is still high. Thermodynamics don't care about hype.