Zero Petroleum
Zero Petroleum is a UK synthetic fuel technology company producing 100% fossil-free, drop-in petrol, diesel, aviation gasoline and jet fuel from captured CO2 and green hydrogen via its proprietary DirectFT® process, serving aviation, heavy transport and motorsport customers ahead of 2026 commercial-scale production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Zero Petroleum does
Zero Petroleum Limited is a UK-based synthetic fuel technology company founded in 2020 by former Formula 1 technical director Paddy Lowe and Imperial College London Professor Nilay Shah. The company produces 100% fossil-free, carbon-neutral drop-in fuels — petrol (Zero® 95/98), diesel (Zero® Diesel), aviation gasoline (Zero® UL91) and jet fuel (Zero® Jet A/Jet A-1) — that require no engine modifications and are compatible with existing infrastructure. Its core process combines Direct Air Capture (DAC) of atmospheric CO2, electrolysis-based green hydrogen production, and a proprietary Fischer-Tropsch variant called DirectFT® that synthesises a narrow range of target hydrocarbon molecules, enabling whole-blend jet fuel without further refinement. The technology is operational at Plant Zero.1, the world's first fully-featured synthetic fuel plant, a 10,000-square-foot facility at Bicester Heritage that began 24/7 production in 2024.
Zero serves customers in aviation (Royal Air Force, Airbus, Boeing, Rolls Royce, ADNOC), heavy-duty transport (Freightliner) and motorsport (2B Autosport, Duke of Richmond), with certification and engineering partnerships including Intertek, Toshiba Energy Systems and Global E&C. The business model combines three revenue streams: direct synthetic fuel sales (currently limited to e-commerce jerrycans at premium first-of-a-kind pricing), a technology licensing programme (Zero® Licence) that enables third parties to produce clean fuel under licence, and engineering/EPC services delivered with Global E&C for plant construction. Commercial-scale production is scheduled to begin in 2026 at a new Oxford, UK facility, with a North American site selection underway.
Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company is pre-commercial, with current production measured in single-digit litres per day. Funding to date includes an oversubscribed July 2022 round (amount undisclosed) led by professional investors and global aviation/automotive commercial partners, with Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill OBE as a seed-stage investor, and a £181,000 UK Department for Transport Sustainable Aviation Fuels Clearing House grant awarded in January 2026 to support ASTM certification and commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel.
Zero Petroleum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zero Petroleum
- Legal name
- Zero Petroleum Limited
- Website
- https://zero.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Zero Petroleum is a UK synthetic fuel technology company producing 100% fossil-free, drop-in petrol, diesel, aviation gasoline and jet fuel from captured CO2 and green hydrogen via its proprietary DirectFT® process, serving aviation, heavy transport and motorsport customers ahead of 2026 commercial-scale production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zero Petroleum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Synthetic Fuel Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Petroleum Refineries (324110)
- SIC
- Petroleum Refining (2911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E‑Fuels & Synthetic Hydrocarbons (e‑kerosene, e‑diesel, e‑gasoline, e‑methane) (EUABAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- CO₂‑Derived Synthetic Fuels for Aviation & Marine (SAF e‑fuels, e‑ammonia/e‑methanol bunkering pathways) (EUABAIAH), Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC)
Keywords
Where Zero Petroleum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Zero Petroleum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Synthetic Fuel Sales: Zero sells synthetic fuels (petrol, diesel, jet fuel, avgas) directly to customers. Currently available as limited edition 20-litre jerrycans. Commercial production planned for 2026 with target pricing in line with fossil fuels.
- Technology Licensing: Zero licenses its synthetic fuel technology and process to other businesses, allowing them to generate clean burning fuel using their own facilities. This enables energy security and provides a crucial component in the future of fuel for licensees.
- Engineering & EPC Services: Partnership with Global E&C for engineering procurement and construction of synthetic fuel plants, including modular solutions for rapid deployment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Current limited edition 20-litre jerrycans |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Zero Petroleum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zero Petroleum manufactures 100% fossil-free, carbon-neutral synthetic fuels (motor petrol, aviation gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel) using its proprietary DirectFT® Fischer-Tropsch process that combines Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 and electrolysis-based green hydrogen. The company operates Plant Zero.1 in Bicester, UK, and sells fuels through an e-commerce storefront and direct enterprise channels while licensing its technology to other businesses for domestic fuel production.
Product overview
Zero Petroleum is a synthetic fuel technology company offering a portfolio of 100% fossil-free, carbon-neutral drop-in fuels including Zero® 98 motor fuel, Zero® 95/Syn95™ petrol, Zero® UL91 aviation gasoline, Zero® Jet A/Jet A-1 jet fuel, and Zero® Diesel. The product portfolio is powered by the company's proprietary DirectFT® synthesis technology. Fuels are produced at Plant Zero.1 (the world's first fully-featured synthetic fuel plant in Bicester, UK) using a process that captures CO2 from air and hydrogen from water electrolysis. The company also offers a licensing programme for businesses to deploy their own synthetic fuel production. All products are designed as direct drop-in replacements requiring no engine modifications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Zero® 98: 100% fossil-free motor fuel
- Zero® UL91
- Zero® Jet A / Jet A-1
- Zero® Diesel
- DirectFT®
- Plant Zero.1
- Plant Zero.2
Products and services
- Zero® 98 Motor Fuel 100% fossil-free, carbon-neutral gasoline fuel designed as a direct drop-in replacement for conventional petrol, requiring no engine modifications. Targeted at automotive and motorsport applications.
- Zero® UL91 Aviation Gasoline 100% synthetic, fossil-free aviation gasoline for piston-engine aircraft, providing clean-burning performance without ethanol or sulphur.
- Zero® Jet A / Jet A-1 Jet Fuel Synthetic jet fuel compatible with commercial and military aircraft, designed as a drop-in replacement for fossil-based aviation fuel with no engine modifications required.
- Zero® Diesel 100% fossil-free synthetic diesel fuel that serves as a direct replacement for conventional diesel without engine modifications.
- Zero® 95 / Syn95™ Synthetic Petrol First batch of clean burning 100% fossil-free synthetic petrol meeting UK and European pump fuel standards, delivering more power and range than E5 or E10 fuels.
- Zero® License Programme Licensing programme enabling businesses to generate clean burning synthetic fuel using Zero's DirectFT® technology at their own facilities, providing energy security and a pathway to fossil-free fuel production.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% fossil-free, carbon-neutral fuel with same energy density as fossil fuels
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Zero Petroleum
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Zero Petroleum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Zero Petroleum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Toshiba Energy SystemscoreExploring development of integrated process for synthetic fuel production, combining expertise to enhance efficiency and scalability of Zero's technology.
- 2B AutosportminorFirst synthetic fuel partner in rally racing category, joining French Rally Championship's Rhône-Charbonnières event with F1 talent Gwen Lagrue driving GT+ spec Porsche 991.
- IntertekcoreTesting and certification partnership supporting Zero's fuel development and ASTM qualification processes. Intertek provides world-class testing capabilities to assess fuel composition, emissions, and compliance with industry standards.
- Global E&CcoreEPC provider partnership for construction of Plant Zero.1, the world's first fully-featured synthetic fuel plant. Global E&C provides engineering, modularisation solutions and construction expertise, transferring skills from fossil-based industries to clean energy sector.
- Royal Air Force (RAF)coreZero partnered with the RAF for the first synthetic fuel aircraft flight test, securing Guinness World Records title 'First aircraft powered by synthetic fuel'. The partnership expanded to develop and trial fuel for fast jets, with the RAF as a key development partner.
- AirbuscoreStrategic partnership demonstrating the versatility and real-world applications of Zero's synthetic fuel technology in commercial aviation.
- BoeingcorePartnership in sustainable aviation fuel development for commercial aircraft applications.
- Rolls RoycecorePartnership for synthetic fuel technology applications in aviation propulsion systems.
- ADNOCcorePartnership with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for synthetic fuel development and energy transition initiatives.
- FreightlinercorePartnership to implement synthetic fuel solutions for heavy-duty vehicles, addressing one of transportation's most significant decarbonization challenges.
- Climate Pledge (co-founded by Amazon)minorZero is a signatory of The Climate Pledge, aligning with a global network of organizations working to reach net-zero carbon by 2040.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Zero Petroleum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HIF Global: Chile-headquartered e-fuels company producing synthetic gasoline from captured CO2 and green hydrogen, including the Haru Oni demonstration plant. Closest direct competitor in the e-gasoline/e-kerosene category with similar feedstock and Fischer-Tropsch-style synthesis pathway.
- INFINIUM: US e-fuels company (formerly Greyrock Energy) producing e-diesel, e-jet and e-naphtha from green hydrogen and waste CO2. Operates Project Bison in Wyoming and shares Zero's e-fuels product portfolio.
- Air Company: New York-based CO2-to-fuels company producing synthetic jet fuel and spirits using proprietary catalyst technology. Direct competitor in CO2 utilisation for aviation and specialty fuels.
- Prometheus Fuels: US-based startup converting captured CO2 and renewable electricity into drop-in gasoline and jet fuel. Shares Zero's direct-air-capture-to-liquid-fuels thesis and drop-in fuel positioning.
- Norsk e-Fuel: Norwegian producer of e-kerosene targeting aviation, using CO2 and green hydrogen. Directly comparable in synthetic aviation fuel production, regulatory approach and European policy alignment.
Broad incumbents
- Neste: World's largest producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from waste and residues. Established incumbent in drop-in low-carbon fuels, competing for the same aviation and heavy transport customers Zero targets.
- Rolls-Royce: Global aviation propulsion incumbent with whom Zero has a strategic partnership. Comparable in addressing synthetic-fuel compatibility with existing aero-engines and shaping the SAF industrial supply chain.
Emerging players
- Twelve (formerly Opus 12): CO2 utilisation company converting captured carbon into fuels, chemicals and materials using renewable electricity. Operates in overlapping CO2-to-hydrocarbons chemistry with shared upstream feedstock economics.
- Caphenia (formerly Synhelion): Swiss/German startup producing solar synthetic kerosene from CO2 and water using concentrated solar thermal energy. Competes in the same e-kerosene/SAF niche as Zero with a differentiated solar-driven pathway.
- LanzaTech: Carbon recycling company using gas fermentation to produce sustainable aviation fuel and ethanol from industrial off-gases. Adjacent CO2/carbon-to-fuels pathway with shared customer base in aviation decarbonisation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zero Petroleum social profiles
Digital presenceZero Petroleum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zero Petroleum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Zero Petroleum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zero Petroleum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zero Petroleum
What does Zero Petroleum do?
Zero Petroleum manufactures 100% fossil-free, carbon-neutral synthetic fuels (motor petrol, aviation gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel) using its proprietary DirectFT® Fischer-Tropsch process that combines Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 and electrolysis-based green hydrogen. The company operates Plant Zero.1 in Bicester, UK, and sells fuels through an e-commerce storefront and direct enterprise channels while licensing its technology to other businesses for domestic fuel production.
Is Zero Petroleum a public or private company?
Zero Petroleum is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Zero Petroleum founded?
Zero Petroleum was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Zero Petroleum based?
Zero Petroleum is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Zero Petroleum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Synthetic Fuel Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and engineering & EPC Services.
Who are Zero Petroleum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HIF Global, INFINIUM, Air Company, Prometheus Fuels and Norsk e-Fuel. Broad incumbents are Neste and Rolls-Royce. Emerging players are Twelve (formerly Opus 12), Caphenia (formerly Synhelion) and LanzaTech.
Does Zero Petroleum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zero Petroleum.
What industry is Zero Petroleum in?
Zero Petroleum's product category is Synthetic Fuel Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAIAA, E‑Fuels & Synthetic Hydrocarbons (e‑kerosene, e‑diesel, e‑gasoline, e‑methane), with a secondary code of EUABAIAH, CO₂‑Derived Synthetic Fuels for Aviation & Marine (SAF e‑fuels, e‑ammonia/e‑methanol bunkering pathways). Its NAICS code is 324110 and its SIC code is 2911.