MIT selects 15 key climate technology companies

Focus: Twelve is named after carbon-12, the most abundant isotope of carbon. Core Capability Twelve is commercializing an electrochemical process that breaks down carbon dioxide to produce nearly all the chemical compounds currently derived from fossil fuels. The company is already using this technology to manufacture E-Jet Fuel—a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—and is negotiating production partnerships for other consumer goods, including sunglasses, Mercedes-Benz components, and chemicals used in laundry detergents. To achieve this, Twelve has developed a suitcase-sized electrochemical reactor called the O12 (pronounced “O-Twelve”). This reactor captures CO₂ either from industrial waste emissions or directly from ambient air. It then uses metal catalysts and electricity to split CO₂ and water, recombining the resulting elements into various target chemicals. In August 2021, the company demonstrated that its E-Jet Fuel technology successfully operated in a pilot project with the U.S. Air Force. Twelve’s work could be especially critical in tackling aviation emissions, which account for roughly 2% of global CO₂ emissions. The vast majority of aircraft worldwide still rely on kerosene-based jet fuel. For example, in the United States, less than 0.1% of the 17.5 billion gallons of jet fuel consumed annually comes from sustainable sources. The Biden administration aims to raise that share to 3 billion gallons per year by 2030—about 17% of total jet fuel use—through tax credits and R&D grants included in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. However, most current SAF supply is produced from bio-based feedstocks—such as animal fats or used cooking oil—which are inherently limited in availability and vary widely in their actual net CO₂ reduction benefits. By contrast, Twelve’s E-Jet Fuel is an “e-fuel,” synthesized via a so-called carbon conversion process. Unlike biofuels, carbon feedstock availability is virtually unlimited (though water supply remains a constraint), and each unit of fuel delivers consistent, verifiable emission reductions. Beyond aviation, Twelve also aims to replace conventional chemical feedstocks across consumer goods and industrial supply chains. Potential Challenges Twelve’s initial SAF production capacity stands at just five barrels per day—insufficient to meaningfully impact overall jet fuel demand—especially given the high current cost of E-Jet Fuel production. Companies including Microsoft, Shopify, and Alaska Airlines view Twelve’s technology as vital to achieving their own sustainability goals; their investments help offset part of the production costs and may support future scaling. On the other hand, carbon conversion remains highly energy-intensive, and Twelve itself has not yet achieved carbon neutrality. Securing sufficient renewable energy and water to power its facilities remains a challenge—at least until U.S. clean-energy infrastructure improves significantly. Future Plans In July, Twelve broke ground on its first commercially scaled plant in Washington State, dedicated to converting CO₂ into SAF. The facility targets annual production of 40,000 gallons by mid-2024.

1 GWh! This energy storage company expands production in Egypt

According to reports, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the signing ceremony for the land-use agreement for this project. The facility will be located in the New Alamein City industrial zone in northeastern Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone. Construction and commissioning are expected to take three years, and upon completion, the project will create over 800 local jobs. ▋ Is JA Solar firing a new salvo in Egypt’s energy storage market? From a corporate perspective, JA Solar places strong emphasis on the Egyptian market—deepening ties with the Egyptian government, fostering synergies with local enterprises, and generating employment to strengthen integration with the local economy. This “shared-benefit” strategy not only helps mitigate operational risks but also secures long-term policy support and brand premium, while shortening supply chain response times and enhancing regional market penetration efficiency. Nonetheless, as a leading photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer, JA Solar has historically maintained relatively sparse presence in Egypt’s energy storage sector. For instance, in the Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage project—the 1 GW PV + 600 MWh Abydos II project awarded to China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC)—JA Solar supplied its DeepBlue 4.0 Pro PV modules for the solar portion, while the energy storage system was provided by partner AMEA Power using Trina Solar products. (Click here) Photo: On-site signing of JA Solar’s 1.25 GW module procurement agreement with CEEC As this project advances, it may mark JA Solar’s strategic entry into Egypt—and more broadly, the Middle East and Africa—energy storage markets. ▋ Is Egypt’s energy storage market entering a pivotal window of opportunity? Amid policy incentives, active government promotion, and explosive growth in solar PV deployment, Egypt is emerging as a key node for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas energy storage operations. Earlier, at the Egypt–EU Investment Conference in June 2024, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy announced the country’s target to raise the share of renewable energy in power generation to 58% by 2040—up from just 13% in 2023. According to the African Solar Industry Association, Africa currently has approximately 18 GWh of energy storage projects under development. Egypt ranks second—with 1.5 GWh planned—just behind South Africa.

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