United Airlines has invested $5m in algae biofuel company Viridos, a microalgae-to-fuels startup, according to a news release.
The investment comes from the new UAV Sustainable Flight Fund and will support the production of SAF made from algae.
Viridos has achieved seven times the oil productivity compared to typical wild-type algae, the release states. The company’s algae are grown in vessels containing seawater. This reduces the need for freshwater and eliminates runoff.
“By establishing production sites to grow Viridos-engineered microalgae in saltwater, we are creating the foundation for a biofuel future that moves away from fossil fuels without competing for precious resources such as fresh water and arable land, Oliver Fetzer, Viridos CEO, said in the release.
