Project Starling

We have raised £7.4m in grant funding and over £3.5m in private funding

We have commenced our Series A raise. Please get in touch to hear more about the investment opportunity.

Kerosene is incredibly energy dense, whilst batteries and hydrogen are much less so. Sustainable Aviation Fuel is viewed as the most viable solution for addressing carbon emissions in the aviation sector.

As with any new technology, initial costs are expected to drop significantly as technologies mature and are deployed at scale, such as in our Project Starling and Project Kestrel facilities.

Biofuels are limited by feedstock (limited supply of waste oils, energy crops compete with food crops). Synthetic SAF uses only CO2, water, and renewable energy, making it infinitely more scalable. Governments recognise this, which is why the UK synthetic SAF mandate and ReFuelEU support a growing PtL industry

CNF was the recipient of the largest grant awarded to a synthetic fuels company in Window 3 of the Department for Transport's Advanced Fuels Fund, and has raised over £11 million so far. We are also the most mature UK synthetic SAF project, with a credible path to FID in Q2 2028 for our flagship facility, which will supply 50% of the PtL submandate in 2031.

Fuels are drop-in compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure, making them one of the most scalable ways to decarbonise aviation. When produced using captured CO₂ and green hydrogen, they can reduce lifecycle emissions by over 90% (or in our case over 95%).

Our fuels are being developed to meet international ASTM D7566 certification standards. We are working with technology licensors and partners to ensure full compliance for commercial blending and use.

We are targeting first production in 2031 from our flagship Project Starling project in the UK. We are actively engaging with airlines now to shape long-term offtake agreements and joint development opportunities.

We are seeking forward-leaning airline partners to collaborate on offtake, co-development, and advocacy. Please get in touch to explore how we can align our sustainability strategies.

The Starling stack offers innovation through integration, not novel components, bringing together Tier-1 licensors at a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) across electrolysis, FT synthesis, and upgrading technologies in modular designs. Our vendors include Honeywell UoP, Johnson-Matthey, and Topsoe.

We’re proud of Starling’s innovative design, in which excess heat from the Fisher-Tropsch reactor raises steam for the Solid Oxide Electrolysis (SOEC) electrolysers, significantly reducing energy consumption. This operates at over 600°C, and is 20-30% more efficient than PEM/Alkaline electrolysis when combined with a source of waste heat. Naphtha and tail gas are then recycled back to syngas to increase yield.

We’re currently the only UK undertaking to announce the use of both biogenic and Direct Air Capture (DAC) carbon sources from 'day one' on a commercial plant. We’re utilising 100% domestic UK feedstock (meaning zero import dependency or geopolitical exposure), and have a primary supply for our biogenic carbon under signed MOU with pricing agreed. This supply-route supports rural industries like farms and distilleries. Water is sourced from an industrial supply network (not drinking water) protecting local water resources. Future phases will use recycled wastewater from the local treatment works, subject to regulatory approval. Recycled waste water is consistently available, increasing the reliability of Project Starling. Positions Workington and the North West as a model for integrated, low-carbon industry, increasing export potential and regional reputation.