Cranfield University Signs Memorandum of Understanding with SAF Developer, CirculAIRity
CirculAIRity, a synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Developer and Cranfield University (Cranfield) and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding forming the basis for the two organisations to work together on multiple projects.
Working with Cranfield’s Centre for Digital Engineering and Design, CirculAIRIty’s vision is to make flying net zero through an industry-first power-to-liquid (PtL) development solution that is location, technology, and energy source agnostic, providing efficiencies not yet seen in the industry.
This starts with the development of a digital engineering platform, working with Cranfield’s Centre for Digital Design and Engineering.
Professor John Erkoyuncu, Head of the Centre for Digital and Design Engineering at Cranfield University, said: “This work leverages the cutting-edge research done in our Centre to make an impact where first of a kind innovation is needed.
We’re delighted to support CirculAIRity’s mission to offer SAF production at scale by designing and developing a digital platform to enable interoperability in engineering modelling for better decisions. The aim is to improve productivity and reliability across the supply chains in the maturing PtL SAF sector.”
Alex Chikhani, CEO and co-founder of CirculAIRity and a Cranfield University alumnus, said: “We’re excited to be partnering with Cranfield University to work towards our joint aims. To reach those goals we need to strategically shape future skillsets, advance humanity’s understanding of energy transition, and deliver a commercially attractive sustainable aviation fuel programme globally.”
CirculAIRity is a company with a vision to achieve net zero for the aviation industry for which SAF is pivotal. Alex’s background in logistics and as a fuels subject matter expert for the RAF, as well as commercial experience in multiple scale-ups, is supported by a highly experienced team across infrastructure, energy, finance and investment, engineering, science, technology and aviation.
Alex continues; “Partnering with Cranfield University means that we can position CirculAIRity as the long-term option for aviation, as the 3rd generation SAF developer at scale. The company’s digital and modular approach to SAF production ensures scalability and efficiency, delivering commercial competitiveness and wide adoption across the aviation sector, whilst acknowledging many other solutions currently available are not endlessly scalable.”
CirculAIRity’s partnership with Cranfield positions the two organisations at the forefront of the recently published UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025. The core themes of the Industrial Strategy include; inward investment, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, job creation, green finance, capital infrastructure, and net-zero transition.
Cranfield University, with a track record in the aviation sector, has proven excellence in integrating academia with industry, and government. Together with Cranfield, CirculAIRity looks forward to delivering the Industrial Strategy, which fully aligns to the developers long-term and very ambitious plans.
