Infinium secures pivotal $75 million for eFuels project

By Team IO

In a step towards eco-friendly aviation, Infinium has partnered with Breakthrough Energy Catalyst to fund Project Roadrunner with a $75 million investment, set to become North America’s largest Power-to-Liquids eFuels initiative. This West Texas project will transform waste CO2 and renewable power into sustainable fuels, directly supporting American Airlines‘ green transition with a solid offtake agreement for eSAF (synthetic fuel derived from renewable energy). The collaboration promises to cut aviation emissions substantially, providing a model for the industry and marking a notable step in the broader shift towards sustainable energy.

The landscape of energy is shifting, and Project Roadrunner stands as a testament to this change. With a substantial $75 million investment from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, Infinium is setting the stage for what will be North America’s largest Power-to-Liquids (PtL) eFuels project. Operating out of West Texas, the initiative will convert renewable power and waste carbon dioxide into a range of sustainable fuels, including eSAF, eNaphtha, and eDiesel[2].

American Airlines has taken a proactive stance by securing a firm offtake agreement for Infinium’s eSAF, elevating the significance of this venture within the aviation sector. This agreement not only signals the airline’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint but also paves the way for similar actions across the industry.

Strategic partnerships and the path to sustainability

Robert Schuetzle, CEO at Infinium, has articulated the importance of the commercial arrangement with American Airlines. The offtake agreement provides financial certainty, facilitating project financing and ensuring a steady revenue stream for Project Roadrunner. This arrangement is seen as a blueprint for the aviation industry, offering a viable path to scale up the production of low-carbon fuels.

Further endorsing the project’s environmental credentials, Citi and American Airlines have agreed to transfer associated emission reductions to Citi. The agreement between Citi and American Airlines to transfer associated emission reductions is a part of broader sustainability efforts. When American Airlines uses sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Infinium’s Project Roadrunner, it results in lower carbon emissions compared to traditional aviation fuels. By transferring these emission reductions to Citi, American Airlines essentially allows Citi to offset or reduce its overall carbon footprint associated with employee travel.
Such collaborative efforts highlight the potential for corporate partnerships to foster technological advancements and sustainability in aviation.

Impact on the aviation industry and beyond

With this investment, Infinium’s eSAF, eDiesel, and eNaphtha are poised to offer ultra-low carbon solutions not just for aviation but also for long-haul transportation, maritime shipping, and the chemical industries. Infinium’s eSAF is a particularly promising product due to its compatibility with existing aviation fuel infrastructure and its potential to decarbonize planes with minimal adjustments.

Mario Fernandez, Head of Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, has lauded Infinium for its technological and commercial maturity, which is expected to hasten the clean energy transition. Bringing to market clean fuels for various sectors of transportation is viewed as a critical step towards mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Challenges in sustainable aviation

Despite the optimism surrounding Project Roadrunner, the aviation industry faces significant challenges in transitioning to emission-free technologies. The production of synthetic fuels is energy-intensive, and the sector lags behind automotive and shipping industries in this respect. Experts suggest that while companies promise emission-free launches of smaller commercial aircraft by 2026, larger commercial aircraft may not see market entry until the 2030s or even later.

Boeing, NASA, and United Airlines test sustainable aviation fuel

SAF has been heralded as a major breakthrough in fighting climate change in aviation due to its ability to reduce carbon emissions significantly.

The transition to sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), hydrogen-powered aircraft, and battery electric aircraft is complex and costly. SAFs, while reducing CO2 emissions by up to 80%, are still expensive and currently used in small quantities. Moreover, hydrogen-powered aircraft necessitate considerable redesign and present storage challenges, and today’s batteries are inefficient for anything more than short-haul flights.

The investment in Project Roadrunner is not just about fuel production; it’s about setting a precedent. Jill Blickstein, American’s Chief Sustainability Officer, expresses that the collaboration with Catalyst and Infinium exemplifies the innovative partnerships necessary to introduce new technologies for decarbonising the skies.