Sora Fuel, a start-up specialising in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production has secured a $6 million seed funding round, led by Engine Ventures with participation from Wireframe Ventures and other investors. This investment will support the expansion of Sora Fuel’s Boston team, development of commercial partnerships, and the advancement of its technology. The start-up produces SAF using only water, air and renewable energy.
As global air travel demand continues to grow, aviation emissions remain a critical challenge, contributing 2.5% of global CO2 emissions and around 4% of global warming. In response, Sora Fuel has developed a novel approach that reduces the cost and environmental footprint of SAF production. The company’s technology harnesses atmospheric CO2 through a liquid bicarbonate electrolyzer, enabling direct air capture (DAC) at just $20 per ton. This system operates on a closed-loop basis, utilising only water and renewable energy to produce syngas, a versatile gas that can be converted into SAF and other products. Compared to other DAC solutions, Sora Fuel’s approach reduces overall energy inputs, eliminates the need for feedstocks (except air and water) and provides a scalable solution.
Gareth Ross, co-founder and CEO of Sora Fuel said, “Sora Fuel’s technology eliminates 90% of the energy currently required in standard DAC processes, opening up an entirely new and more sustainable path for producing carbon negative fuels. Our patented, closed-loop system enables the direct generation of an economical product and overcomes widespread feedstock constraints, allowing us to produce SAF at prices comparable to current Jet A fuel.”