Insider Brief
- United Airlines Ventures has invested in direct air capture company Heirloom to advance net zero aviation by 2050, marking its first investment in DAC technology.
- The partnership grants United the right to purchase up to 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal for sustainable aviation fuel production or permanent underground storage.
- Heirloom’s limestone-based DAC process offers a scalable, cost-effective solution to carbon removal, supporting United’s broader sustainability strategy and the aviation industry’s shift toward lower-emission fuel alternatives.
United Airlines Ventures has made an investment in direct air capture company Heirloom, advancing its goal of achieving net zero aviation by 2050. The partnership includes the right to purchase up to 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal for sustainable aviation fuel production or permanent underground storage, according to United. This marks United’s first investment in a DAC technology company.
Aviation contributes 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, primarily from burning hydrocarbon fuels, Heirloom pointed out. Unlike ground transportation, where electric vehicles provide an alternative, aviation faces a challenge due to the high energy density required for flight. The weight of batteries necessary to power large commercial aircraft remains a significant hurdle, making alternative fuels and carbon capture critical to achieving sustainability goals.
Heirloom’s technology leverages limestone’s natural ability to capture CO2 from the atmosphere, accelerating the process to create a scalable and cost-effective carbon removal method. By integrating DAC with SAF production, United and Heirloom aim to create a circular carbon system, where CO2 is captured, converted into fuel, and then recaptured after combustion. This approach could make aviation fuel’s carbon intensity up to 94% less carbon intensive, according to Heirloom.
“Carbon capture is one of our country’s fastest growing, energy enabling pathways,” said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures. “At UAV, our primary focus is finding solutions for decarbonization that are profitable. Heirloom’s technology aligns directly with this objective, offering a scalable and commercially viable approach and complements United’s commitment to net zero by 2050.”
This investment is part of the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, a $200 million industry-backed initiative supporting startups focused on decarbonizing air travel. Other major partners include Boeing, Air Canada, Google, and Honeywell, all working to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation technologies.
