Paddy Lowe's Zero open new synthetic fuel production facility in Oxford
Zero has opened a new technology centre - Plant Zero.1- as it builds on its vision to create mass market fossil-free synthetic fuels.
The Oxford company was founded by F1 industry veteran Paddy Lowe and chemistry Professor Nilay Shah, OBE with a vision to introduce a new energy 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 with the jet fuelled 100 per cent 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.
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.”
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.”
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.
