Velocys Launches AlphaCore 800 to Scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

The introduction of the AlphaCore 800 expands the Velocys reactor lineup, which now spans capacities from 50 to 800 barrels per day. By increasing throughput per reactor, the company intends to reduce the total number of units required for large-scale projects. For instance, a facility targeting 1,600 barrels per day can now operate with just two AlphaCore 800 units, representing a 75% reduction in reactor count compared to using eight AlphaCore 200 models.

This consolidation simplifies the surrounding plant architecture, reducing the footprint of the Fischer-Tropsch island and lowering the overall capital cost of the unit. CEO Matthew Viergutz noted that the design is a direct response to customer demand for simpler configurations as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects increasingly target higher annual yields. The new reactor utilizes the same core microchannel technology and catalyst platform as the existing AlphaCore 50, 200, and 400 models, maintaining operational consistency while enabling developers to scale production capacity.