Andrew Symes

OxCCU

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Co-founder and CEO of OXCCU, a spinout from Oxford University, specialising in converting CO₂ into fuels, chemicals, and plastics via novel catalysis. Andrew is a former climate tech VC investor committed to leading technological innovation to solve climate change.

OXCCU’s mission is to give future generations the acknowledged benefits of hydrocarbons but without their climate impact.

At OXCCU, we are at the forefront of scientific advancement, shaping the future of sustainable energy and fuel, chemical and plastic production. We combine CO2 from the air with H2 from water and renewable electricity, producing lower carbon or circular fuels, chemicals, and biodegradable plastics. Carbon is an incredibly useful element, especially when used in hydrocarbons. Our mission is to enable future generations the continued use of hydrocarbon fuels but without their climate impact. Despite the growing prevalence of renewable energy, fossil fuels still accounted for 82% of the 604 EJ of primary energy the world needed in 2022. To limit the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, we must transition to zero-emission sources within just 30 years. While some sectors, such as power, are already on this path, not all sectors are easy-to-decarbonise using renewable electricity directly. In particular, long-distance aviation transport fuels, with energy density requirements beyond current batteries, and petrochemicals, where carbon molecules become the multitude of products we use in our everyday lives. Here is where OXCCU offers a unique solution. Our inexpensive catalysts work with remarkable efficiency and selectivity, transforming CO2 into valuable hydrocarbons through a groundbreaking one-step process. CO2 can be transformed into e- fuels, sustainable chemicals and biodegradable plastics. This is the future of truly circular technological advancements. One where people can fly, use household chemicals and buy disposable and biodegradable plastic products without concerns about their impact on climate change or waste disposal. The company was spun out from the University of Oxford in 2021 by co-founders Andrew Symes whilst working at IP Group and Jane Jin whilst working at OUI, and is underpinned by scientific breakthroughs published in top-tier scientific journals by the academic founders, Professor Peter Edwards, Dr Tiancun Xiao and Dr Benzhen Yao.