Zero (corporation)

Last updated
Zero Petroleum Limited
Company typePrivately held company
Industry Technology
Founded2020 [1]
Founder Paddy Lowe and Professor Nilay Shah
Headquarters London
Area served
United Kingdom
OwnerPrivately-owned
Websitezero.co

Zero is a manufacturer of non-biological carbon-neutral e-fuel [2] [3] [4] co-founded by former Formula One engineer Paddy Lowe. [5] [6] Its product has been developed as an alternative to fossil-based fuels and a more scalable sustainable alternative to waste and bio-fuels. [7] The Royal Air Force used its fuel in November 2021 to achieve a World Record first flight powered by synthetic fuel. [8] In July 2022, Zero entered a new partnership [9] [10] [11] with the Royal Air Force to move towards mass production of sustainable aviation fuel.

Contents

Technology

Zero uses Direct FT (a proprietary and specialised version of Fischer-Tropsch) to directly manufacture target fuels (gasoline, kerosene and diesel) at high yield and with no need for refinery upgrading.

When manufactured using renewable energy, synthetic fuel can be used as a carbon neutral or carbon negative direct drop-in replacement for fossil fuels, particularly for operations that require high energy densities - such as air travel, shipping and farming - and to ensure the continued use of legacy vehicles. [12] It can also be used as a raw material to produce various forms of plastic.

It is manufactured using a process known as petrosynthesis, in which carbon dioxide and hydrogen are combined to create hydrocarbons. The process involves direct air capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the electrolysis of water to obtain hydrogen.The carbon dioxide is converted into carbon monoxide in a Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS) reactor and this combines with the hydrogen to create a ‘Syngas’ that is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor to create the final hydrocarbon products. The use of renewable energy throughout the process results in the production of carbon neutral and carbon negative hydrocarbons. [13]

History

In March 2020, Zero Petroleum Limited, now known simply as Zero, was founded by Paddy Lowe and Professor Nilay Shah. Lowe is a former Formula One motor racing engineer and computer scientist who achieved 12 World Championships and 158 race wins over his 32-year F1 career with Williams, McLaren and Mercedes. Shah is the Head of Imperial College London's Department of Chemical Engineering and received an OBE for services to the decarbonisation of the UK economy in 2020, including his notable work on modelling and optimising technologies for carbon capture and storage systems. [14]

In September 2021, Zero received capital from a Glasgow-based investment syndicate, providing funds to scale its processes. [15] [16] Investors included former Formula One World Champion Damon Hill. [17]

On 2nd November 2021, the company supplied its synthetic fuel to the Royal Air Force to achieve the world's first successful flight using only synthetic fuel. [18] [19] The fuel was manufactured in Orkney using locally generated wind, and tide and wave energy. [20] The aircraft, an Icarus C42 microlight, was flown around Cotswold Airport. The project was part of the RAF's Project MARTIN, through which it plans to achieve its first net-zero airbase by 2025 and a net-zero force by 2040. [21]

In June, 2022, Lowe represented Zero in UK Parliament at a session held to discuss the future of sustainable fuels. He was joined by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, Motorsport UK Chair David Richards, Mercedes F1 CTO James Allison and former F1 driver Karun Chandhok. [22] In July 2022, the company announced its new partnership with the Royal Air Force which will see the joint development of fast jet aviation fuel.

In February 2024, Zero signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Sauber Motorsport. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fossil fuel</span> Fuel formed over millions of years from dead plants and animals

A fossil fuel is a hydrocarbon-containing material such as coal, oil, and natural gas, formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel. Fossil fuels may be burned to provide heat for use directly, to power engines, or to generate electricity. Some fossil fuels are refined into derivatives such as kerosene, gasoline and propane before burning. The origin of fossil fuels is the anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms, containing organic molecules created by photosynthesis. The conversion from these materials to high-carbon fossil fuels typically requires a geological process of millions of years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biofuel</span> Type of biological fuel

Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels such as oil. Biofuel can be produced from plants or from agricultural, domestic or industrial biowaste. Biofuels are mostly used for transportation, but can also be used for heating and electricity. Biofuels are regarded as a renewable energy source. The use of biofuel has been subject to criticism regarding the "food vs fuel" debate, varied assessments of their sustainability, and possible deforestation and biodiversity loss as a result of biofuel production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liquefied petroleum gas</span> Fuel for heating, cooking and vehicles

Liquefied petroleum gas, also referred to as liquid petroleum gas, is a fuel gas which contains a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases, specifically propane, n-butane and isobutane. It can sometimes contain some propylene, butylene, and isobutene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthetic oil</span> Lubricant consisting of artificially made chemical compounds

Synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds that are artificially modified or synthesised. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials. The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically. The actual synthesis process and composition of additives is generally a commercial trade secret and will vary among producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative fuel</span> Fuels from sources other than fossil fuels

Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are fuels derived from sources other than petroleum. Alternative fuels include gaseous fossil fuels like propane, natural gas, methane, and ammonia; biofuels like biodiesel, bioalcohol, and refuse-derived fuel; and other renewable fuels like hydrogen and electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet fuel</span> Type of aviation fuel

Jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is colorless to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1, which are produced to a standardized international specification. The only other jet fuel commonly used in civilian turbine-engine powered aviation is Jet B, which is used for its enhanced cold-weather performance.

The Fischer–Tropsch process (FT) is a collection of chemical reactions that converts a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, known as syngas, into liquid hydrocarbons. These reactions occur in the presence of metal catalysts, typically at temperatures of 150–300 °C (302–572 °F) and pressures of one to several tens of atmospheres. The Fischer–Tropsch process is an important reaction in both coal liquefaction and gas to liquids technology for producing liquid hydrocarbons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula Student</span> UK student engineering competition

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthetic fuel</span> Fuel from carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Synthetic fuel or synfuel is a liquid fuel, or sometimes gaseous fuel, obtained from syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in which the syngas was derived from gasification of solid feedstocks such as coal or biomass or by reforming of natural gas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicester Airfield</span> Airport in Bicester, Oxfordshire

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Business action on climate change</span> Range of activities by businesses relating to climate change

Business action on climate change includes a range of activities relating to climate change, and to influencing political decisions on climate change-related regulation, such as the Kyoto Protocol. Major multinationals have played and to some extent continue to play a significant role in the politics of climate change, especially in the United States, through lobbying of government and funding of climate change deniers. Business also plays a key role in the mitigation of climate change, through decisions to invest in researching and implementing new energy technologies and energy efficiency measures.

Renewable Fuels are fuels produced from renewable resources. Examples include: biofuels, Hydrogen fuel, and fully synthetic fuel produced from ambient carbon dioxide and water. This is in contrast to non-renewable fuels such as natural gas, LPG (propane), petroleum and other fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Renewable fuels can include fuels that are synthesized from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Renewable fuels have gained in popularity due to their sustainability, low contributions to the carbon cycle, and in some cases lower amounts of greenhouse gases. The geo-political ramifications of these fuels are also of interest, particularly to industrialized economies which desire independence from Middle Eastern oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental effects of aviation</span> Effect of emissions from aircraft engines

Aircraft engines produce gases, noise, and particulates from fossil fuel combustion, raising environmental concerns over their global effects and their effects on local air quality. Jet airliners contribute to climate change by emitting carbon dioxide, the best understood greenhouse gas, and, with less scientific understanding, nitrogen oxides, contrails and particulates. Their radiative forcing is estimated at 1.3–1.4 that of CO2 alone, excluding induced cirrus cloud with a very low level of scientific understanding. In 2018, global commercial operations generated 2.4% of all CO2 emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paddy Lowe</span> British Formula One engineer

Patrick Allen Lowe FREng, known as Paddy Lowe, is the founder and CEO of the fossil-free synthetic fuel company Zero. A former motor racing engineer and computer scientist, he spent 32 years working in Formula One, serving as Chief Technical Officer at Williams Racing, Executive Director (Technical) at Mercedes Formula One team and Technical Director at McLaren. He was involved with cars that won 12 World Championships and secured 158 race wins. He left Formula One in 2019 and co-founded Zero in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviation biofuel</span> Sustainable fuel used to power aircraft

An aviation biofuel is a biofuel used to power aircraft and is a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The International Air Transport Association (IATA) considers it a key element in reducing the environmental impact of aviation. Aviation biofuel is used to decarbonize medium and long-haul air travel. These types of travel generate the most emissions, and could extend the life of older aircraft types by lowering their carbon footprint. Synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) refers to any non-petroleum-based fuel designed to replace kerosene jet fuel, which is often, but not always, made from biomass.

Mercedes-Benz, a brand of the Mercedes-Benz Group, has been involved in Formula One as both team owner and engine manufacturer for various periods since 1954. The current Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is based in Brackley, England, and possesses a German licence. An announcement was made in December 2020 that Ineos planned to take a one third equal ownership stake alongside the Mercedes-Benz Group and Toto Wolff; this came into effect on 25 January 2022. Mercedes-branded teams are often referred to by the nickname, the "Silver Arrows".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrofuel</span> Carbon-neutral drop-in replacement fuel

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Carbon-neutral fuel is fuel which produces no net-greenhouse gas emissions or carbon footprint. In practice, this usually means fuels that are made using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a feedstock. Proposed carbon-neutral fuels can broadly be grouped into synthetic fuels, which are made by chemically hydrogenating carbon dioxide, and biofuels, which are produced using natural CO2-consuming processes like photosynthesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Allison (motorsport)</span> English motorsport designer and engineer (born 1968)

James Allison is a British motorsport designer and engineer, best known for his accomplishments in Formula One, where he is the technical director of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon Engineering</span> Canadian energy company

Carbon Engineering Ltd. is a Canadian-based clean energy company focusing on the commercialization of direct air capture (DAC) technology that captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere.

References

  1. ↑ "ZERO PETROLEUM LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
  2. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - BBC Inside Science, Blood Clot Cure, Synthetic Fuels and Coal Mine Heat Pumps". BBC. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  3. ↑ Pickering, Chris (June 2021). "Green Tech: Zero Petroleum" (PDF). Race Tech. 247: 48–55.
  4. ↑ "The automotive future isn't all-electric, says F1 champion team chief ahead of ASI Connect debate". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  5. ↑ "Ex-Mercedes executive Paddy Lowe on Zero Petroleum's 'ambitious' targets". The Independent. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  6. ↑ Whipple, Tom. "Chemists are getting creative with carbon-neutral planes". ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  7. ↑ "Stock take: Are e-fuels part of our future?". Autocar. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  8. ↑ "First aircraft powered by synthetic fuel". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  9. ↑ "Sustainable fuel set to power the Royal Air Force reaches landmark new stage". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  10. ↑ "Royal Air Force Advances Synthetic Aviation Fuels Work | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  11. ↑ Mavrokefalidis, Dimitris (2022-07-21). "Royal Air Force to fly in cleaner skies". Energy Live News. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  12. ↑ Paddy Lowe On Leaving Williams And Winning With Mercedes | Beyond The Grid | Official F1 Podcast , retrieved 2022-01-18
  13. ↑ "Ingenia - Fuel for a net zero future". www.ingenia.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  14. ↑ IChemE. "IChemE Fellows recognised with 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours". www.thechemicalengineer.com. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  15. ↑ "Raising Partners Angels Invests in Zero Petroleum". UK Business Angels Association. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  16. ↑ "UK synthetic fuel manufacturer secures £200k funding from Damon Hill syndicate". The Manufacturer. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  17. ↑ "F1 legend Damon Hill in Scottish-led syndicate backing new synthetic fuels firm". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  18. ↑ "RAF sets new world record for first successful flight using only synthetic fuel in 'unique project'". Sky News. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  19. ↑ Kettley, Sebastian (2021-11-17). "RAF sets new Guinness world record after first successful flight using revolutionary fuel". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  20. ↑ "RAF sets world record for first successful flight powered by synthetic fuel". The Independent. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  21. ↑ Hoyle2021-11-17T10:25:00+00:00, Craig. "RAF, Zero Petroleum claim first net-zero synthetic fuel flight". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ "Former F1 driver Chandhok hosts session on sustainable motorsport in UK parliament". The Indian Express. 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  23. ↑ Cooper, Adam (2024-02-29). "Lowe returns to F1 with Sauber via Zero sponsorship deal". Motorsport.com . Retrieved 2024-02-29.
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