Mitsui & Co., Ltd. has announced its investment in Berkeley’s Twelve Benefit Corporation, a producer of E-Jet fuel, a synthetic, sustainable aviation fuel to accelerate decarbonization with synthetic fuels. The recent $83 million raised by Twelve in February follows the momentum of their $645 million funding round announced last fall.
Twelve is a leading decarbonization company supported by several investors, including MOL Switch LLC, a MOL subsidiary focused on decarbonization, which invested in Twelve in July 2024. Mitsui continues its commitment towards collaborating on clean technology as it uses clean energy, water, and CO2.
Synthetic Fuel and Its Potential
Chemical reactions and catalytic processes produce synthetic fuel. The basic feedstocks are green hydrogen from water electrolysis by renewable means and CO2. In addition to aviation fuel, synthetic fuels power shipping, heavy trucking, and serve in the production of plastics and chemicals. Notably, such fuels have over a 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions than products derived from fossil fuels, and thus they are a crucial alternative for decarbonizing those industries where electricity or hydrogen alone is not possible.
Twelve’s Technology in CO2 Electrolysis
Twelve specializes in CO2 electrolysis technology. The company has developed a clean electrolysis process to make synthetic gas for fuels from clean energy, water, and CO2. Twelve’s first plant in Moses Lake, Washington, will open in 2025, producing up to five barrels of fuel daily.
Twelve has already secured offtake agreements with several notable companies, including Alaska Airlines, the International Airlines Group (IAG), and Microsoft, for e-SAF, e-naphtha, and environmental credits. The first regular commercial flights powered by e-SAF will take off this year, marking a milestone in sustainable aviation efforts.
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Mitsui’s Role in the Carbon Value Chain
With its investment in Twelve, Mitsui is growing its business in the carbon value chain. The firm is currently engaged in several sectors including direct air capture (DAC), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and utilization of CO2 in the production of synthetic fuel. Through Twelve, Mitsui aims to link disparate sources of CO2 like biomass and DAC to aviation fuel markets worldwide.