Can $50 Carbon Capture Fuel the Future?

Prometheus claims sub-$50/ton CO₂ capture, a leap that could push e-fuels into the mainstream

7 Aug 2025

A bold claim from Prometheus Fuels could redraw the economics of clean energy. The California startup says it has developed a modular carbon capture unit that pulls CO₂ from the air for less than fifty dollars a ton, a price point that could finally make synthetic fuels commercially viable. If real-world results match the promise, one of the toughest cost barriers in decarbonizing aviation might fall.

The first system, now being built in California, is designed to capture about two hundred tons of CO₂ a year. Unlike sprawling facilities that require heavy infrastructure and a steady grid connection, these smaller modules can run directly on wind or solar in remote areas. Prometheus argues that this flexibility could place e-fuel production wherever renewable power is cheapest, greatly expanding its reach.

At the center of the design is the company's Faraday Reactor, which cuts out several costly steps in both carbon capture and fuel synthesis. The company says this reduces energy demand enough to bring synthetic jet fuel close to the cost of fossil kerosene. For airlines under pressure from regulators and investors to slash emissions, that would be a seismic shift.

Skeptics are not convinced yet. Consultancy Ramboll reviewed the company's numbers, but no independent long-term data has been released, and the system has not run at commercial scale. "If this technology truly delivers carbon at that cost, it changes everything," said one airline executive, who asked not to be named. "But we need to see it proven over time."

The implications go well beyond aviation. Affordable modular capture and e-fuel production could support shipping, steelmaking, or even backup power for data centers. But regulatory approvals for aviation and other industries are still works in progress. Uncertainty around scale, durability, and certification remains. Even so, the momentum is clear. If Prometheus can deliver on its claims, modular e-fuels could reshape not only how America makes fuel but also how fast the world can move away from fossil energy.