In the world of clean tech, the journey from concept to commercialization is often long and winding. CleanJoule, a pioneer in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), exemplifies this path. CEO Mukund Karanjikar offers a candid look at their innovation timeline, providing valuable insights into sustainable fuel development and the commercialization of clean technologies in aviation.
The Genesis: 2009-2012
CleanJoule’s story begins in 2009, rooted in a vision for sustainability. Karanjikar reflects on these early days: “The first three years were lot of ideation as to what to go after, what’s important, both from the viewpoint of our expertise that we can meaningfully contribute and from the viewpoint of what’s relevant.”
This period was marked by exploration and definition. “Those three years were lot of going down many dark alleys, coming back, restarting, and we’re confident that most important piece of those three years, I remember is we’re learning every day there was something new every day and that’s what kept us going,” Karanjikar shares.
The breakthrough came in 2012 with their first government contract. While not large, it provided crucial validation. Karanjikar notes, “It wasn’t a very large contract, but it was… instant gratification that other people, because see the a lot of entrepreneurs do not understand that this is not helicopter money.”
Research and Development: 2012-2022
The decade following their initial contract was dedicated to intensive R&D. Karanjikar describes this period succinctly: “Up to 2022 was rearview mirror period, where lot of toiling away, midnight oil burning, etcetera, solving all the technological problems.”
This phase is often the most challenging for clean tech startups, requiring persistence and faith in the face of numerous setbacks and breakthroughs.
Scaling Up: 2023-2025
With the core technology developed, CleanJoule entered its current phase of scaling up. “Then the engineering scale up is 2023 to 2025,” Karanjikar explains. This period focuses on translating laboratory success into real-world application, a critical step in clean tech commercialization.
Commercialization on the Horizon: 2026-2029
Looking ahead, Karanjikar outlines an ambitious timeline for full commercialization. “The work will begin in 2026. So you will find, come 2028, 2029, you will find at the corner station, the proverbial corner station, CleanJoule SAF for sale, that any airline can power it at any airport that they would want.”
This projection offers a concrete target for when sustainable aviation fuel might become widely available, marking a potential turning point in aviation sustainability.
Funding the Journey
CleanJoule’s approach to funding this long development process offers lessons for other clean tech startups. Karanjikar emphasizes the importance of government contracts: “We happen to be lucky in that way. The mousetrap we chose to work on happened to be so relevant for the US government that they literally almost undertook all our development from 2009 to 2023.”
More recently, the company has engaged strategic investors from the aviation industry. “We have three different airlines… They also participated in our series a strategic investment raise,” Karanjikar notes, highlighting the value of industry partnerships in clean tech development.
Lessons from the Timeline
CleanJoule’s journey underscores several key aspects of clean tech commercialization:
- The importance of a long-term perspective. As Karanjikar puts it, “Start with sequestering 20 years of your life if you’re not prepared to do that.”
- The value of persistence through years of R&D. “You can tear that and swear within yourself, but learn from it and hit back harder,” Karanjikar advises.
- The need for diverse funding sources, from government contracts to strategic industry partnerships.
- The critical role of scaling up and engineering in bridging the gap between concept and commercialization.
Looking to the Future
As CleanJoule approaches its commercialization phase, its timeline offers a roadmap for other clean tech innovators. The company’s journey from concept to near-commercialization spans two decades, reflecting the complex reality of developing sustainable technologies in aviation.
For the aviation industry and beyond, CleanJoule’s progress represents a significant step toward sustainability. As Karanjikar states, “We are after making aviation 100% sustainable.” With commercialization on the horizon, that goal is closer to reality than ever before.
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