In this episode of Leaders in Cleantech, I sit down with Nacho Gimenez, Chief Operating Officer at OXCCU, to explore his journey from chemical engineer, to venture investor, and now back into an operational leadership role at one of Europe's most exciting climate technology companies. We discuss OXCCU's breakthrough approach to producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other hydrocarbons by converting CO₂ into valuable products and why reducing the cost of synthetic fuels will be critical to decarbonising aviation and the wider chemicals industry. Nacho explains the company's novel Fischer-Tropsch technology, its scale-up journey, and why flexibility of feedstock and simplicity of process are central to its strategy. Beyond the technology, we also reflect on leadership. Nacho shares what it's been like moving from the analytical world of venture investing back into the day-to-day reality of building a company, where culture, speed of decision-making, and creating psychological safety are just as important as engineering excellence. We also discuss: Why sustainable aviation fuel is central to aviation's decarbonisation Converting waste CO₂ into fuels and chemicals Scaling deep-tech from pilot plant to commercial deployment The role of strategic investors and industrial partnerships Moving from investor to operator Building culture and psychological safety in deep-tech businesses The future of sustainable hydrocarbons beyond aviation About our Guest Nacho Gimenez is the Chief Operating Officer at OXCCU, an Oxford University spinout developing a single-step process to convert CO2 or biogas directly into sustainable aviation fuel. He joined OXCCU because he believes the hardest problems in energy are also the most important ones, and that science is only the first step needed to change the world. Someone has to scale it up and build things. His career spans over 25 years across the energy value chain. After studying chemical engineering and researching zeolites catalysis, he moved into refining with BP in Spain, commodity trading, and technology investment at BP Ventures, where he rose to Managing Director. From there, he spent years backing the people building the energy transition from the outside, until he decided it was time to join them. At OXCCU, Nacho is bringing together the scientists in R&D with the engineers as the company grows from pilot plant to demonstration scale, to the first commercial plants. He believes the best teams are based on trust, share a sense of urgency, and take ownership of the outcomes without fear. That culture is not built in a workshop. It shows up in how a team handles a hard day. Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. OXCCU's Fischer-Tropsch chemistry, the same family of reactions first developed 100 years ago in Germany, is now adapted to use CO2 as a feedstock instead of coal, and it is one of the most direct routes to solving that problem. Twenty-five years of energy experience, from the lab bench to the trading floor to the boardroom. Nacho is now putting all of it to work at OXCCU. About OXCCU: OXCCU is an Oxford University spinout developing a technology that converts CO2 or biogas directly into sustainable aviation fuel in a single step. Founded on over a decade of catalysis research at the University of Oxford, the company has developed a bifunctional iron-based catalyst that eliminates the complexity and cost of conventional power-to-liquid routes. Most approaches to synthetic fuel require multiple reactors, a hydrocracker, and significant capital infrastructure. OXCCU does it in one. No wax. No hydrocracker. No rare earth metals. The result is a simpler process, lower capital cost, and more competitive SAF economics. OXCCU has raised over £41 million from some of the most strategically credible investors in aviation and energy, including IAG, Safran, Aramco, ENI, Orlen, and Trafigura. The company delivered its OX1 pilot plant on time and on budget, and is now advancing OX2, its demonstration plant at Oxford Airport, targeting commercial-scale production before 2030. Aviation is responsible for around 2.5% of global CO2 emissions and has no credible electrification pathway. Regulatory mandates in the UK and European Union are already requiring airlines to blend increasing volumes of SAF, with power-to-liquid fuels specifically targeted to grow from near zero today to hundreds of millions of tonnes annually by 2050. OXCCU is building the technology to fill that gap. The same catalyst that makes SAF can also produce naphtha, olefins, solvents, and other hydrocarbon products from CO2 or biogas. Aviation is the first port of call. It will not be the last. Books and links mentioned The Hard Thing about Hard Things- Ben Horrowitz: https://a16z.com/books/the-hard-thing-about-hard-things/ Moral Ambition - Rutger Bregman: https://rutgerbregman.com/booksSapiens - Yuval Noah Harari: https://www.ynharari.com/book/sapiens/ The Alchemy of Air - Thomas Hager: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alchemy-Air-Thomas-Hager/dp/0307351793 Connect with Nacho Gimenez and OXCCU LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nacho-gimenezCompany: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oxccu/ Website: https://www.oxccu.comAbout the Host David Hunt is a cleantech thought leader, podcast host, and former executive search and solar EPC founder. As Non-Executive Chair and a long-time advisor to growth-stage and scaling businesses, he brings deep insight into leadership, energy transition, and the future of climate-focused industries. David supports businesses as a NED and Advisor via Stoa Advisory, and through his podcast and writing, David explores the people, ideas, and innovations shaping a more sustainable world. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hunt-cleantech/ Substack: https://davidhuntcleantech.substack.comAbout the Podcast Leaders in Cleantech explores the people, ideas, and decisions shaping the energy transition. Through in-depth conversations with founders, CEOs, investors, and industry leaders, the podcast focuses on leadership, scaling companies, and the realities of building in a complex and rapidly evolving sector. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leaders-in-cleantech-podcast/ Website: https://leadersincleantech.com/🎧 Sponsored by Hyperion Search Hyperion Search is a specialist executive search firm focused on the cleantech sector. The firm partners with startups, scaleups, investors, and corporates to build leadership teams and boards across clean energy, mobility, and infrastructure. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyperion-search-ltd Website: www.hyperionsearch.com Feedback & Community I’m always keen to hear feedback, guest suggestions, or topics you’d like explored in future episodes. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider subscribing or leaving a review — it helps the show reach more people across the cleantech community.
