Prometheus
Prometheus Fuels converts atmospheric CO2 and renewable electricity into carbon-neutral liquid fuels—methanol, jet fuel, and diesel—via proprietary direct air capture and electrochemical synthesis. It serves aviation, data center, defense, and industrial customers through long-term offtake agreements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSanta Cruz, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Prometheus does
Prometheus Fuels is a venture-backed deep-technology company that produces carbon-neutral liquid fuels from atmospheric CO2 and renewable electricity using a 100% electrochemical pathway. Its core platform combines a proprietary no-desorb direct air capture (DAC) process, which captures CO2 from air into water as carbonate ions without an energy-intensive desorption step, with the Faraday Reactor, the world's first hydrocarbon electrolyzer that converts those carbonate ions directly into long-chain hydrocarbon fuels at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The Maxwell Core carbon nanotube membrane handles fuel-water separation, eliminating distillation. The integrated platform is validated to TRL 9 via the Titan Forge Alpha pilot plant in Santa Cruz, which has operated continuously on off-grid solar for one year producing 99.99% pure methanol.
The product slate spans e-methanol, e-kerosene (synthetic paraffinic kerosene, C8-C19), e-diesel, and ethanol from a single technology platform, with the addition of ULDES (Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage) systems that store surplus renewables as liquid fuels for 1,500+ hours at under $5/kWh capital cost. Two commercial-scale e-methanol projects are pre-sold: Project Lodestone at 100,000 tons/year and Project Lodestar at 1 million tons/year, with combined 10-year offtake value exceeding $8 billion at 2025 commodity prices.
Prometheus generates revenue through long-term offtake agreements and capital or operating leases to enterprise customers in four segments: data centers (ULDES for 24/7 renewable power and seasonal storage), aviation (synthetic paraffinic kerosene for sustainable aviation fuel), defense (containerized fuel production systems deployable with portable SMRs), and industrial/chemical buyers (methanol and e-fuels as chemical feedstocks). The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting named anchor customers such as American Airlines (10 million gallons of jet fuel) and the un-disclosed Lodestone and Lodestar counterparties. Patents cover 10 patent families across major jurisdictions, with the foundational CO2-DAC-to-carbonate-to-fuels patent granted in 2020 as first-to-file in the field. Independent techno-economic and lifecycle validation has been performed by Ramboll, DeepSense, and AmSpec Houston.
Prometheus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prometheus
- Legal name
- Prometheus Fuels
- Website
- https://prometheusfuels.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Prometheus Fuels converts atmospheric CO2 and renewable electricity into carbon-neutral liquid fuels—methanol, jet fuel, and diesel—via proprietary direct air capture and electrochemical synthesis. It serves aviation, data center, defense, and industrial customers through long-term offtake agreements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prometheus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Synthetic Carbon-Neutral Fuels
- NAICS
- Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (3241), Petroleum Refineries (324110)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Products Of Petroleum & Coal (2990), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E‑Fuels & Synthetic Hydrocarbons (e‑kerosene, e‑diesel, e‑gasoline, e‑methane) (EUABAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- CO₂‑Derived Synthetic Fuels for Aviation & Marine (SAF e‑fuels, e‑ammonia/e‑methanol bunkering pathways) (EUABAIAH), Electrochemical CO₂ Conversion Systems (electrolyzers, catalysts, reactors, balance‑of‑plant) (EUABAIAK), E-fuels Storage & Blending (E-diesel, E-kerosene/SAF, E-gasoline) (EUAFAFAC)
Keywords
Where Prometheus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Cruz
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prometheus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- E-Methanol Sales: Production and sale of e-methanol fuel from direct air capture and electrochemical synthesis. Project Lodestone (100,000 tons/year, ~33.6 million gallons) pre-sold for 10 years at over $800M. Project Lodestar (1 million tons/year, ~336 million gallons) offtake agreements signed. Combined pre-sale value exceeds $8B at 2025 commodity prices.
- Jet Fuel Sales: Synthetic paraffinic kerosene (jet fuel) production and sales targeting aviation industry. American Airlines agreed to purchase 10 million gallons of jet fuel. First 100% electrochemical pathway for jet fuel production at costs below petroleum-derived fuel.
- Diesel and Gasoline Sales: Carbon-neutral diesel and gasoline produced through the electrochemical pathway. Fuels compatible with existing ICE vehicles and infrastructure. First vehicle demonstration on Prometheus fuel January 2025 (Honda Grom) and April 2025 (1968 Mustang Fastback).
- ULDES Systems (Energy Storage): Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage systems sold or leased to data centers and grid operators. Systems store electricity as liquid fuels for seasonal storage. Pacific Northwest data center project specified at 300 MW / 450 GWh for $984M total project cost.
- Defense Fuel Systems: Containerized fuel production systems for defense applications. Using power from portable SMR (Small Modular Reactor), can create diesel and jet fuel in transportable containerized systems deployable by cargo aircraft for sovereign fuel production in remote or temporary locations.
- Technology Licensing: IP licensing opportunities for the proprietary DAC-to-hydrocarbon fuel technology. 10 patent families in major jurisdictions with foundational patents for CO2 DAC to carbonate/bicarbonate to fuels. Prometheus was first-to-file on this technology.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | E-Methanol (Commercial Scale) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Jet Fuel |
| Other | Multi-year contract | ULDES Systems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Off-Grid Solar Fuel Production |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Prometheus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prometheus Fuels converts atmospheric CO2 captured via proprietary no-desorb direct air capture into finished liquid hydrocarbon fuels (e-methanol, e-kerosene, e-diesel, e-gasoline) using the Faraday Reactor hydrocarbon electrolyzer, and sells these fuels plus ULDES energy storage systems to enterprise customers in aviation, data centers, defense, and industrial sectors under multi-year offtake agreements.
Product overview
Prometheus Fuels offers a unified technology platform centered on direct air capture (DAC) and electrochemical hydrocarbon synthesis to produce carbon-neutral liquid fuels. The core system comprises proprietary no-desorb DAC technology, the Faraday Reactor (world's first hydrocarbon electrolyzer), and Maxwell Core carbon nanotube membranes. Key products include Titan Forge Alpha (pilot production system), ULDES (Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage systems), and commercial fuels (e-methanol, e-kerosene, e-diesel). Two commercial-scale projects are planned: Project Lodestone (100,000 tons/year methanol) and Project Lodestar (1 million tons/year methanol).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ULDES (Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage): Seasonal energy storage systems that store renewable energy as liquid fuels for 1500+ hours, enabling firm dispatchable 24/7 power for data centers and grids
- Titan Forge Alpha
- Faraday Reactor
- Project Lodestone
- Project Lodestar
Products and services
- e-Methanol
- e-Kerosene (Jet Fuel)
- e-Diesel
- Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage (ULDES) System
- Containerized Defense Fuel Production Systems
- IP Licensing of DAC-to-Hydrocarbon Technology
Quantifiable outcome
- Direct air capture cost of <$50/ton CO2 (validated by Ramboll at <$40/ton)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Prometheus
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Prometheus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Prometheus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered key.
- DeepSensekeyIndependent engineering firm commissioned by Maersk to observe Titan Forge Alpha pilot system operation and verify one-year performance data. Also observed and confirmed production of kerosene using Prometheus' electrochemical pathway.
- AmSpec Houston Technical CenterkeyExternal laboratory that confirmed Prometheus methanol purity at 99.99% meeting IMPCA international standards. Also performed carbon isotope analysis confirming unique signature for fuels made from atmospheric CO2 captured by Prometheus DAC technology.
- RambollkeyIndependent engineering firm engaged for techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) on Prometheus' technology platform. Drew methanol samples sent to external lab confirming 99.99% purity. Observed and confirmed kerosene production from Prometheus' 100% electrochemical pathway. Validated DAC cost at less than $40/ton.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Prometheus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HIF Global: Chile-based e-fuels company (Haru Oni pilot) using green hydrogen plus captured CO2 to produce e-methanol, e-gasoline, and e-SAF. Targets the same aviation and maritime fuel customers and competes head-to-head for e-methanol offtake.
- Climeworks: Swiss commercial-stage direct air capture company. Closest direct peer in DAC technology stack, although Climeworks historically focuses on CO2 removal/credits rather than downstream fuel synthesis. Represents the most advanced competing DAC platform.
- 1PointFive (Occidental): Occidental's DAC subsidiary operating Carbon Engineering's liquid-solvent DAC technology at scale (Stratos plant in Texas). Direct competitor in DAC with the backing of a major oil major and significantly larger capital base.
- LanzaTech: Carbon capture and conversion company using gas-fermentation (acetogen) biology to convert CO/CO2 into ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel. Targets the same aviation and fuel customers (including a deal with American Airlines partner Indigo) but via a biological rather than electrochemical route.
- Infinium: Sacramento-based e-fuels producer (e-methanol, e-SAF, e-diesel) using green hydrogen plus captured CO2. Direct competitor for the same aviation/marine/industrial customer segments that Prometheus targets with its e-methanol and e-kerosene products.
- Twelve (formerly Opus 12): Bay Area-based CO2 electrolysis company converting captured CO2 into chemicals and fuels. Closest technology peer — also uses electrochemical CO2 conversion but focuses on smaller-molecule outputs (CO, formic acid, ethylene) rather than long-chain hydrocarbons.
Emerging players
- Heirloom Carbon: Bay Area DAC startup using limestone-based direct air capture with significant 2024–2025 funding. Direct competitor in low-cost DAC technology with a focus on carbon removal credits rather than downstream fuel synthesis.
- Caphenia: German early-stage e-fuels startup using a thermochemical reverse-water-gas-shift route to produce e-fuels from CO2 and green hydrogen. Competes in the same European aviation/marine e-kerosene and e-methanol market.
- Charm Industrial: Bay Area DAC company that converts captured CO2 into biochar for permanent carbon removal rather than fuels. Uses adjacent DAC+conversion technology stack but monetizes via carbon credits rather than fuel sales; potential partner or acquirer.
Broad incumbents
- Aemetis: Public renewable-fuels company producing biodiesel, renewable diesel, and SAF from agricultural/forestry waste. Competes in the same sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel end-markets but via a bio-route at commercial scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prometheus social profiles
Digital presencePrometheus compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Prometheus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prometheus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Prometheus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prometheus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prometheus
What does Prometheus do?
Prometheus Fuels converts atmospheric CO2 captured via proprietary no-desorb direct air capture into finished liquid hydrocarbon fuels (e-methanol, e-kerosene, e-diesel, e-gasoline) using the Faraday Reactor hydrocarbon electrolyzer, and sells these fuels plus ULDES energy storage systems to enterprise customers in aviation, data centers, defense, and industrial sectors under multi-year offtake agreements.
Is Prometheus a public or private company?
Prometheus is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Prometheus founded?
Prometheus was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Prometheus based?
Prometheus is headquartered in Santa Cruz, United States, in the North America region.
How does Prometheus make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. E-Methanol Sales are the primary driver. The others are jet Fuel Sales, diesel and Gasoline Sales, ULDES Systems (Energy Storage), defense Fuel Systems and technology Licensing.
Who are Prometheus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HIF Global, Climeworks, 1PointFive (Occidental), LanzaTech, Infinium and Twelve (formerly Opus 12). Emerging players are Heirloom Carbon, Caphenia and Charm Industrial. Aemetis is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Prometheus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prometheus.
What industry is Prometheus in?
Prometheus's product category is Synthetic Carbon-Neutral Fuels. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAIAA, E‑Fuels & Synthetic Hydrocarbons (e‑kerosene, e‑diesel, e‑gasoline, e‑methane), with a secondary code of EUABAIAH, CO₂‑Derived Synthetic Fuels for Aviation & Marine (SAF e‑fuels, e‑ammonia/e‑methanol bunkering pathways). Its NAICS code is 32511 and its SIC code is 2990.