United announced a strategic investment in Twelve, a pioneering power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels company that converts carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using renewable energy-a process inspired by natural photosynthesis.
This investment comes through the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund℠, following Twelve’s successful $83 million Series C funding round and new project financing for its flagship SAF production facility, AirPlant™ One, located in Moses Lake, Washington. The facility is set to begin operations later this year and aims to produce approximately 50,000 gallons of SAF annually.
Twelve has also secured a major milestone: a 14-year SAF supply agreement with a prominent European airline group. Under the contract, the company will deliver 260 million gallons of SAF, supporting the sustainability goals of five affiliated airlines. This deal, along with the commissioning of AirPlant One, signals strong market demand for Twelve’s innovative electrofuels technology.
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Once operational, the SAF produced by Twelve is expected to offer up to a 90% reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, making it one of the most promising alternatives for decarbonizing aviation.
“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,” said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures®. “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.”
“United’s Sustainable Flight Fund’s investment reinforces our momentum at a pivotal moment as we move from innovation to implementation,” said Nicholas Flanders, co-founder & CEO of Twelve. “With AirPlant One launching imminently and strong a 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.”