Plans to de-fossilise entire industries including road transport, aviation, marine, agriculture and construction took a major step forward today when Zero opened its new technology centre, Plant Zero.1, in order to create fossil-free synthetic fuel from just air and water. Zero was founded by F1 legend Paddy Lowe and influential chemistry Professor Nilay Shah, OBE with a vision to introduce a new paradigm within global energy and materials for the post-fossil-fuel era. This first-of-a-kind plant will see the company produce carbon-neutral synthetic gasoline (petrol), diesel, and jet fuel in Q3 2023.
The opening ceremony ribbon was cut by the world’s first synthetically fuelled model jet engine unveiling the new unique technology centre in the most dramatic fashion. The jet was fuelled 100% by Zero’s drop-in synthetic jet fuel, “Zero® jet fuel”.
The company’s unique new technology enables it to produce guilt-free synthetic liquid fuels at unlimited scale that offer the same performance as fossil fuels but are 100% carbon neutral as they are made using the same amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted when they are combusted. The fuels can be used in existing engines as a 100% drop-in replacement to polluting fossil fuels across all industries and sectors, enabling individuals and businesses to continue as usual, without damaging the planet.
The UK’s Royal Air Force has been a big supporter of Zero since 2021 through the collaboration, “Project MARTIN”. Plant Zero.1 will deliver critical milestones under this project, including ASTM certification of jet fuel, followed by a first flight with a fast jet, all of which falls within the RAF’s plans to achieve net zero by 2040.
Zero co-founder and CEO Paddy Lowe said: “In this building we will pioneer the transition to a circular economy in fuels and materials delivering a paradigm shift in world energy from fossils to synthetic. It is incredibly exciting to formally open this global landmark plant which will be a centre of excellence for the emerging synthetic fuel industry where we bring our incredible talent and unique technology together under one roof. We would particularly like to thank the UK’s Royal Air Force for their support for Zero in our journey so far.”
Cutting edge facility
Plant Zero.1 is a cutting-edge facility designed to the same exacting standards that Lowe and many of his staff recruited from Formula One are accustomed to deliver. Taking design cues from consumer-focused global businesses, the factory’s space-age design demonstrates the vision behind the company, which aims to drive the transition from fossil fuels by making synthetic fuel a lifestyle choice.
The facility will contain equipment for all three separate processes used to create the fuel: Direct Air Capture (DAC) to extract carbon from the air; electrolysis to turn water into hydrogen, with oxygen as a by-product; and the company’s proprietary technology, “DirectFT®”, a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process that uses unique catalysts to make the synthetic fuels. The production will be powered by solar panels fitted to the roof of the building.
Zero co-founder Professor Nilay Shah said: “Zero’s fuels are very similar in structure to fossil fuels, but they are carbon neutral. Unlike biofuels and fuels created from waste – which are both excellent interim solutions to reducing carbon emissions – synthetic fuels can be produced at scale, wherever there is a source of water and renewable electricity.”
High demand
The increasing worldwide demand for synthetic fuels was recently demonstrated by two significant changes to EU regulations. The ReFuel EU aviation fuel-blending mandate has increased the requirements for the use of synthetic fuel in aviation from 28% to 35% by 2050, while the proposed ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacture from 2035 has been eased to still permit ICE cars that are powered by synthetic fuel.
Zero is one of the few companies globally to successfully create all three types of carbon neutral fuel – petrol, diesel and jet fuel – and holds the Guinness World Records® title for the first aircraft powered by synthetic fuel, in partnership with the RAF. The first output from Plant Zero.1 will be used to follow that up with a fast jet test, where Zero and the RAF will aim to demonstrate synthetic fuel’s ultimate performance potential.
The company has already developed designs for the next phase of production scale-up, Plant Zero.2, which will produce fuel at a commercial scale. Potential sites for construction are currently being developed around the world, with the build set to begin in 2024 ready for deployment to commence as early as 2025.
