Circularity Fuels Tests Dairy-Biogas Synthetic Kerosene in California

Circularity Fuels conducted the six-month trial at a dairy farm near Madera, California, using biogas from decomposing manure to produce synthetic kerosene. The company said the fuel met ASTM D7566 Annex A1 requirements for Fischer–Tropsch synthetic kerosene.

Key details

• The company’s process uses methane and carbon dioxide from dairy biogas to make synthesis gas, then converts it into liquid hydrocarbons through the Fischer–Tropsch process.
• Fuel meeting the stated specification may make up to 50% of a blend with conventional jet fuel.
• Circularity Fuels said it raised $7 million for a demonstration plant and commercial-facility design. The proposed facility would produce 75 barrels per day.
• The company reported raising about $17 million in total, including nearly $7 million in grants.

The trial took place at a dairy with about 5,000 cattle.

Why it matters

The stated blend limit gives airlines a potential route to use this type of synthetic kerosene alongside conventional jet fuel. Circularity Fuels says its process uses dairy biogas directly, without first separating out the carbon dioxide.