United Airlines Ventures (UAV) recently announced a strategic investment in NEXT Renewable Fuels (NEXT) which permits a flagship biofuel refinery in Port Westward, Oregon, with expected production beginning in 2026. UAV could invest as much as $37.5 million into NEXT, provided that the company meets several milestone targets.
NEXT is a next-generation fuels company dedicated to sustainably producing clean, low-carbon fuels. Based in Houston, the company, at full production, could produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renewable fuels. United claims it has invested in more SAF production than any other airline company.
Launched in 2021, UAV is a first-of-its-kind sustainability-focused venture fund that targets startups, upcoming technologies, and concepts that will complement United’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. That is, without relying on traditional carbon offsets such as voluntary offsets or planting trees. To date, UAV’s portfolio includes SAF producers and other companies advancing technologies, including carbon utilization, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft, and air taxis.
“Right now, one of the biggest barriers to increasing supply and lowering costs of sustainable fuel is that we don’t have the infrastructure in place to transport it efficiently, but NEXT’s strategic location and assets solve that problem and provide a blueprint for future facilities that need to be built,” said Michael Leskinen, UAV president. “We believe this investment will not only bolster NEXT’s ambitions and create near-term solutions to expand our SAF supply, but further demonstrates our commitment toward producing SAF at the scale necessary to decarbonize the aviation industry.”
De-risking Biofuel supply issues
NEXT’s biorefinery offers several unique benefits, including access to a deep-water port, an existing industrial-grade dock, and multi-modal logistics options, which facilitate accessing feedstock options and fast-growth SAF offtake markets on the west coast. The company has secured an agreement with BP for sourcing 100% of its feedstock, further de-risking supply issues smaller facilities have historically experienced. Also, the company received a crucial air permit from the State of Oregon. Once all the necessary approvals and permits are obtained, including the biorefinery as operational, it has the potential to be used as a platform to scale SAF and deploy more future technologies.
“The clean fuels industry is taking off, and our access to feedstocks, multi-modal distribution, and major industry players positions us to be a leading SAF supplier on the West Coast,” said Christopher Efird, NEXT CEO and chair. “United’s investment in NEXT strengthens our resolve to be one of the clean fuels leaders in the transportation sector.”
The recent announcement marks UAV’s fifth SAF-related technology investment and its first investment directly in a biorefinery. United has been an industry leader in advocating for alternative jet fuel for years—including investing in more SAF production than any other airline in the world and flying the world’s first passenger flight using 100% SAF in one engine. United also launched the Eco-Skies Alliance program, which among its 30 corporate participants, has collectively purchased more than 7 million gallons of SAF. (Story and photo courtesy of United)