Velocys Scales Microchannel Tech for Larger Aviation Fuel Plants

The AlphaCore 400 doubles the capacity of the company’s previous 200-series reactors while retaining the same fundamental design principles and catalyst chemistry. By packing more microchannel cores into a single shell, the new unit allows developers to reach higher production targets with fewer reactor trains. This architecture aims to shrink the physical footprint of the Fischer-Tropsch island and simplify project execution, addressing a common bottleneck in building large-scale renewable fuel facilities.

CEO Matthew Viergutz noted that the technology is designed to help projects leverage proven performance across a broader range of scales. As developers move toward hub-and-spoke ecosystems using biomass, municipal waste, or power-derived syngas, the ability to deploy larger reactor configurations becomes critical for project economics. According to COO Andrew Bensley, the roadmap focuses on providing the flexibility to right-size production units based on specific feedstock availability and local infrastructure. Future iterations are already in development to further increase capacity and reduce overall equipment counts.