· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Axios or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: United Airlines (see sustainability performance) has invested in direct air capture (DAC) startup Heirloom, securing rights to purchase 500,000 tons of CO₂ for sequestration or conversion into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
• This marks United's first investment in a company commercializing DAC technology under its Sustainable Flight Fund
🔭 The context: Aviation contributes approximately 3% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, a figure expected to rise
• Sustainable jet fuels are currently available only in limited quantities
• Heirloom's technology accelerates limestone's natural CO₂ absorption, offering a scalable solution for carbon removal
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: By investing in DAC technology, United aims to reduce its carbon footprint and promote the development of cleaner jet fuels, contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts
⏭️ What's next: Heirloom plans to scale its operations, having recently raised $150 million in Series B funding to commercialize its DAC technology
• United's investment and commitment to purchase captured CO₂ will support the expansion of this technology, potentially leading to increased production of sustainable aviation fuels
💬 One quote: "By utilizing DAC as a dual-pronged tool that can both greatly reduce CO₂ emission from aviation fuel and remove residual emissions, we are charting a true path to Net Zero aviation." — Shashank Samala, CEO of Heirloom
📈 One stat: United's Sustainable Flight Fund comprises over $200 million in investment commitments from United and corporate partners, including Embraer, GE Aerospace, and Google
See here detailed sustainability performances of Embraer, Google and United Airlines
Click for more news covering the latest on carbon removal and sustainable aviation
