Carbon Neutral Fuels : What a difference a year makes!

In September 2023, Sophie Zienkiewicz, Co-Founder of Carbon Neutral Fuels was delighted to attend the Shadow Board Take Over of the British Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Member Meeting. The gathering, buzzing with energy and innovation, enabled key players and fresh faces in the energy sector to share their journeys and inspire others in the West Cumbria Energy Community.

At the time, Carbon Neutral Fuels was just a year old. Started in 2022 by Sophie Zienkiewicz and Alasdair Lumsden, CNF is on a mission to decarbonise the aviation industry by producing a synthetic, low carbon jet fuel which planes can use instead of traditional kerosene.

During Sophie’s presentation, she spoke about the newly formed Consortium comprising engineering house io consulting and Direct-Air-Capture technology supplier Mission Zero Technology. Together, they had applied to the Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund to design an efuels facility.

Soaring to new heights

Just after last year’s event, we were proud to receive a £1.4 million grant from the UK Government’s Department for Transport. This grant was part of the second phase of the Advanced Fuel Fund, and has enabled us to complete the feasibility designs for our first facility. We have been working closely with technology vendors to understand the process of project execution and are currently working on updating our project schedule for bringing the facility online towards the end of the decade.

Growing our network has been essential

In addition to this, CNF was invited to join Shell’s Start-Up Engine Programme which has provided invaluable support in developing our business model and granting access to industry experts.We have also increased our team from 2 to 5, and joined a number of membership organisations to enhance our understanding of the policy and regulatory environment, including the Renewable Transport Fuel Association.

Spreading the word

Attending conferences and events has been a key aspect of CNF's strategy for growth and knowledge sharing. Over the past year, we've participated in numerous industry conferences, forums, and exhibitions, including exhibiting at Innovation Zero 2024; showcasing our work at the SAF Supply Chain Initiative; and travelling to Amsterdam to speak at the Sustainable Aviation Futures event. These conferences have provided invaluable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and staying abreast of the latest developments in the aviation industry.

Finally, CNF was honoured to be announced as the Pro Manchester's Tech Trailblazer of the Year 2024. This award recognises our innovative approach to making the aviation industry more sustainable.

Looking Ahead

The Shadow Board Take Over meeting is a brilliant celebration of young talent in the energy space. It was an amazing opportunity to practise speaking in front of a friendly audience and hone our key messages.

Thank you to the BECBC Shadow Board for hosting such a fantastic event and to everyone who has been part of CNF's story. We are excited about what’s to come and look forward to continuing our journey with the support of our partners, stakeholders, and the broader community. Together, we're driving the future of sustainable aviation forward.

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Carbon Neutral Fuels is an e-fuels project developer. We are designing a facility to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel to help the industry decarbonise. To learn more about CNF, visit our website here : https://cnf.energy/