{{short description|Synthetic fuel manufacturer}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Zero Petroleum Limited | logo = Zero(R) logo horiz.svg | company_slogan = | vector_logo = | type = Private | genre = | foundation = 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11911847|title=Zero Petroleum Limited overview – Find and update company information – GOV.UK|date=2020|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk}}</ref> | founder = Paddy Lowe and Nilay Shah | location = London | origins = | area_served = United Kingdom | industry = Technology | num_employees = | parent = | owner = Privately-owned | homepage = [https://www.zero.co/ Zero.co] | footnotes = }} '''Zero''' is a manufacturer of non-biological e-fuel claimed to be carbon-neutral,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-04|title=The automotive future isn't all-electric, says F1 champion team chief ahead of ASI Connect debate|url=https://www.motorsport.com/general/news/the-automotive-future-isnt-all-electric-says-f1-champion-team-chief-ahead-of-asi-connect-debate/5340015/|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Motorsport.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-20|website=BBC Radio 4 |title=BBC Inside Science, Blood Clot Cure, Synthetic Fuels and Coal Mine Heat Pumps|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w5j9|access-date=2022-01-18|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pickering |first=Chris |date=June 2021 |title=Green Tech: Zero Petroleum |url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/68dcdf47/files/uploaded/RaceTech%20-%20June%202021.pdf |journal=Race Tech |volume=247 |pages=48-55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118134131/https://irp.cdn-website.com/68dcdf47/files/uploaded/RaceTech%20-%20June%202021.pdf |archive-date=2022-01-18}}</ref> co-founded by former Formula One engineer Paddy Lowe and professor Nilay Shah.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whipple |first=Tom |date=2022-06-09|title=Chemists are getting creative with carbon-neutral planes |work=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/transport/article/chemists-are-getting-creative-with-carbon-neutral-planes-8038cr727 |access-date=2022-09-20 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title=Ex-Mercedes executive Paddy Lowe on Zero Petroleum's 'ambitious' targets |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/f1-mercedes-paddy-lowe-zero-petroleum-b2129059.html |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Its product is designed as an alternative to fossil-based fuels and a more scalable sustainable alternative to waste and biofuels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-06|title=Stock take: Are e-fuels part of our future? |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-tech%2C-development-and-manufacturing/stock-take-are-e-fuels-part-our-future |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Autocar |language=en}}</ref>
In 2021, the Royal Air Force used its fuel to achieve a World Record first flight powered by synthetic fuel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First aircraft powered by synthetic fuel|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/680995-first-aircraft-powered-by-synthetic-fuel|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-gb}}</ref> In July 2022, Zero entered a new partnership with the Royal Air Force to move towards mass production of sustainable aviation fuel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainable fuel set to power the Royal Air Force reaches landmark new stage |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sustainable-fuel-set-to-power-the-royal-air-force-reaches-landmark-new-stage |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Air Force Advances Synthetic Aviation Fuels Work {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/shownews/farnborough-airshow/royal-air-force-advances-synthetic-aviation-fuels-work |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=aviationweek.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mavrokefalidis |first=Dimitris |date=2022-07-21 |title=Royal Air Force to fly in cleaner skies |url=https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/07/21/royal-air-force-to-fly-in-cleaner-skies/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Energy Live News |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History == [[File:Paddy Lowe - Zero Petroleum.jpg|thumb|Paddy Lowe, founder and CEO of Zero]] In March 2020, Zero Petroleum Limited, simply known as Zero, was founded by Paddy Lowe and Nilay Shah. Lowe is a former Formula One race engineer, while 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=IChemE |title=IChemE Fellows recognised with 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours |url=https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/icheme-fellows-recognised-with-2020-queen-s-birthday-honours/ |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=www.thechemicalengineer.com}}</ref>
In September 2021, Zero received capital from a Glasgow-based investment syndicate with investors including Damon Hill.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-20 |title=Raising Partners Angels Invests in Zero Petroleum |url=https://www.ukbaa.org.uk/raising-partners-angels-invests-in-zero-petroleum/ |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=UK Business Angels Association |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UK synthetic fuel manufacturer secures £200k funding from Damon Hill syndicate |url=https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/uk-synthetic-fuel-manufacturer-secures-200k-funding-from-damon-hill-syndicate/ |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=The Manufacturer |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=F1 legend Damon Hill in Scottish-led syndicate backing new synthetic fuels firm |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/19601760.f1-star-damon-hill-backs-new-synthetic-fuels-firm/ |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=HeraldScotland |language=en}}</ref> On 2 November 2021, the company's synthetic fuel was used by the Royal Air Force to achieve the world's first successful flight using only synthetic fuel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAF sets new world record for first successful flight using only synthetic fuel in 'unique project' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/raf-sets-new-world-record-for-first-successful-flight-using-synthetic-fuel-12470231 |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kettley |first=Sebastian |date=2021-11-17 |title=RAF sets new Guinness world record after first successful flight using revolutionary fuel |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1523020/raf-sets-guinnes-world-record-zero-petroleum-synthetic-fuel-ul91-carbon-emissions |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The fuel was manufactured in Orkney using locally generated wind, and tide and wave energy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-17 |title=RAF sets world record for first successful flight powered by synthetic fuel |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/raf-flight-synthetic-fuel-first-b1958989.html |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> The aircraft, an IKarus C42 microlight, was flown around Cotswold Airport.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=2021-11-17 |title=RAF, Zero Petroleum claim first net-zero synthetic fuel flight |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/raf-zero-petroleum-claim-first-net-zero-synthetic-fuel-flight/146467.article |access-date=2022-01-18 |website=Flight Global |language=en}}</ref> In February 2024, Zero signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Sauber Motorsport.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Adam |date=2024-02-29 |title=Lowe returns to F1 with Sauber via Zero sponsorship deal |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/lowe-returns-to-f1-with-sauber-via-zero-sponsorship-deal/10581090/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Motorsport.com |language= |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229122717/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/lowe-returns-to-f1-with-sauber-via-zero-sponsorship-deal/10581090/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Technology == Zero uses a specialised version of Fischer-Tropsch to manufacture target fuels (gasoline, kerosene, and diesel). Lowe claims that, when manufactured using renewable energy, synthetic fuel can be used as a carbon neutral or carbon negative direct drop-in replacement for fossil fuels to ensure the continued use of legacy vehicles.<ref>{{Citation|title=Paddy Lowe On Leaving Williams And Winning With Mercedes {{!}} Beyond The Grid {{!}} Official F1 Podcast|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j65L14gt19c|language=en|access-date=2022-01-18}}</ref> It is manufactured using the petrosynthesis process, 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ingenia - Fuel for a net zero future|url=https://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/issue-89/fuel-for-a-net-zero-future|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Ingenia}}</ref>
== See also == * Carbon capture and storage * Carbon-neutral fuel * Synthetic fuel commercialisation
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.zero.co Official website]
Category:British companies established in 2020 Category:Companies based in London