Cleanhill Partners Announces Partnership with CleanJoule to Drive Growth of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
1.11.2021 17:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
Cleanhill Partners, a private equity firm pursuing investments in the energy transition sector that contribute to decarbonization, announced a partnership with CleanJoule LLC, the world’s leading producer of full-performance sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The deal provides CleanJoule with the financial, strategic and operational resources to accelerate the commercialization of its technology – advancing meaningful efforts to slow climate change and addressing energy shortages predicted to disrupt the aviation industry within the next 30 years. The investment comes on the heels of Cleanhill’s partnership with KORE Power, Inc., the leading U.S.-based developer of battery cell technology for the electric transportation and energy storage industries.
“As decarbonization of the aviation sector continues to present a daunting technological challenge and mounting environmental imperative, we are thrilled to be able to partner with Cleanhill and advance our shared vision of creating cost-effective clean energy solutions that can be deployed today,” said Dr. Mukund Karanjikar, CEO of CleanJoule. “Having led the way in developing the industry’s most eco-friendly and commercially viable sustainable aviation fuel, CleanJoule is now very well-positioned to significantly expand its adoption and shorten the timeframes to achieving a greener global aviation industry.”
Dr. Karanjikar, who previously held innovation-focused roles at Technology Holding LLC and Chevron, has spent more than a decade developing the CleanJoule SAF technology, along with Dr. Ashok Joshi, a globally recognized, high-technology entrepreneur. Validated by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Energy, CleanJoule’s proprietary production process converts biomass into a superior SAF molecule along with a bio-derived rubber co-product, yielding the only carbon negative, zero-petroleum, full performance and 100 percent drop-in SAF that can be used in a variety of commercial aviation engines without modification.
Cleanhill co-founders and Managing Partners Ash Upadhyaya and Rakesh Wilson will join CleanJoule’s board of directors. Having previously served in leadership positions at KKR and Apollo, respectively, they bring decades of experience investing across the energy value chain.
“Cleanhill is laser-focused on partnering with companies such as CleanJoule that are solving large-scale decarbonization challenges with timely, commercially viable approaches,” said Upadhyaya and Wilson. “By rapidly scaling CleanJoule in collaboration with our industry partners, we’ll be advancing efforts of vital importance to the climate and global economy.”
Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Cleanhill Partners.
About CleanJoule
CleanJoule is the world’s leading innovator of full-performance SAF, founded by a passionate and creative group of engineers, scientists and visionaries focused on aviation fuels, with the purpose of creating a sustainable planet, reducing global carbon emissions and ultimately combatting climate change. CleanJoule’s highly innovative technology allows it to harness existing energy from biomass and convert it to superior performance aviation fuel as well as bio-rubber that can be used in various consumer and commercial products. For more information, visit www.cleanjoule.com .
About Cleanhill Partners
Cleanhill Partners is a private equity firm pursuing investments in the energy transition sector that contribute to decarbonization. The firm invests in scalable businesses with visibility into revenues, earnings and cash flow growth, leveraging its thesis-driven approach and operational expertise to enhance value in each of our investments. The firm has offices in New York and Houston. To learn more, please visit www.cleanhillpartners.com .
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211101005195/en/
Contact information
Media Relations
Hannah Arnold, The LAKPR Group
harnold@lakpr.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Entrepreneurs Invited to Apply for 2027 SPIE Startup Challenge11.8.2026 21:40:00 EEST | Press release
Entrepreneurs around the world are invited to apply for a chance to pitch their optics or photonics technologies or products to a panel of expert judges at the 17th annual SPIE Startup Challenge. SPIE, the international society of optics and photonics, holds the competition at Photonics West every January, with multiple teams walking away with cash prizes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260811090450/en/ Coalesenz won first prize for their hand-held, point-of-care coagulation analyzer at the SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West in January 2026. More than a simple pitch competition, the SPIE Startup Challenge is an entry point into the community of high-tech business development of new products in healthcare and deep tech, with an audience of experienced photonics innovators and investors. Cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500 are provided by Startup Challenge Founding Partner Jenoptik. Also given is t
The Aga Khan Museum Welcomes Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan and Saira Bhojani to its Board of Directors11.8.2026 18:30:00 EEST | Press release
The Aga Khan Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan and Saira Bhojani to its Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260811597825/en/ Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, board member, Aga Khan Museum Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan joins the Board with a deep commitment to arts and culture. He brings an international outlook shaped by working with the Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Music Programme. Committed to advancing pluralism and cultural dialogue, Prince Aly brings a fresh perspective that will help guide the Museum as it continues to evolve, engage new audiences, and expand its impact both in Canada and internationally. Prince Aly is the son of His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and brother of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V. Joining him on the Board is Saira Bhojani, Partner at Torys LLP and one of Canada's leading tax lawyers. Ms. Bhojani is wid
Mouser Explores the Future of Quantum Computing and Its Potential to Transform Engineering11.8.2026 17:48:00 EEST | Press release
Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, today announced the latest installment of its Empowering Innovation Together (EIT) technology series, A Quantum Leap in Computer Processing. This installment explores the emerging field of quantum computing and examines how the principles of quantum mechanics could unlock new computational capabilities for solving problems that remain difficult for conventional computing architectures. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260811222432/en/ Explore how quantum computing could help engineers address problems too complex for traditional systems. Unlike traditional computers, quantum computers leverage quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition, entanglement, and interference, to perform calculations in fundamentally different ways. While today's quantum systems still face challe
Andersen Global Expands Legal Capabilities with Beech Incorporated11.8.2026 16:30:00 EEST | Press release
Andersen Global enters into a Collaboration Agreement with Beech Incorporated, a legal firm based in South Africa, broadening its legal capabilities in the region. Beech Incorporated provides legal and regulatory services to the mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, oil and gas sectors, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, commercial, project financing, health, safety and environmental, employment, and compliance matters. The firm’s multidisciplinary team advises clients across the full project lifecycle—from development and financing to operations and stakeholder engagement—and is recognized as a leading legal firm by publications including Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. “Our approach is built on understanding the industries we serve at a practical level and providing practical, actionable advice to clients operating in complex regulatory environments,” said Warren Beech, CEO of Beech Incorporated. “By working alongside the member and collaborating firms of Andersen
Rehlko Expands Power Plus™ Connected-Services Capabilities, Enhancing Value Across Installed Base11.8.2026 16:15:00 EEST | Press release
Rehlko, a global industrial energy resilience platform providing custom-engineered, integrated power solutions for mission-critical infrastructure worldwide, today announced the expanded capabilities of Rehlko Power Plus™ industrial remote monitoring. The cloud-based platform is designed to help customers reduce downtime, improve backup power reliability, and proactively manage critical power assets through real-time monitoring, alerts, diagnostics, and reporting. Rehlko Power Plus represents a meaningful expansion of Rehlko’s aftermarket capabilities and reinforces the company's strategy to deepen customer engagement across the asset lifecycle while growing its higher-value aftermarket business. As backup power systems become increasingly critical to business continuity, organizations need more than periodic inspections and reactive maintenance. Rehlko Power Plusenables customers and distributors to continuously monitor generators and automatic transfer switches, receive real-time ale
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom