Northumbria University
From Flue Gas to Flight: Recycling Industrial CO₂ into Clean Aviation Fuel
Finalist, Research with Impact
About
What if the carbon pouring out of a factory chimney could power tomorrow’s aircraft? That is the breakthrough behind IONIST, a Northumbria University spin-out turning industrial CO₂ emissions into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The technology began a laboratory research into an inexpensive copper-based catalyst for recycling carbon dioxide, was proven through a pilot with waste-management leader SUEZ, and is now patented and modular. A compact, membrane-free electrolyser (eCOGen™) powered by renewable electricity converts captured CO₂ into syngas; a low-pressure reactor (eCOSAF™) then produces drop-in, ASTM-grade jet fuel. Unlike biofuels, it competes for neither food nor land and installs on site at the emission source. Each unit is designed to deliver up to 90% lower lifecycle emissions. Backed by Northern Accelerator, Innovate UK and UKRI, IONIST shows how university research can close the carbon loop, decarbonise a hard-to-abate sector, and create green jobs in the North East of England.
Top three learnings
1. Technology alone is not enough — an early industrial pilot proved real-world value fastest.
2. University commercialisation support turns laboratory discoveries into investable, job-creating companies.
3. Designing modular, affordable, on-site systems makes decarbonisation accessible to smaller businesses too.
SDGs
17 - Affordable and clean energy
What it means to win
The Green Gown Awards offer a fantastic showcase for our sustainability-driven research. The award would provide valuable recognition of our project's environmental impact and innovation. By demonstrating how waste carbon dioxide can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel, the project offers a solution to reducing emissions in one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. An award would help raise the profile of the technology and further strengthen opportunities for collaboration and investment.
| 2026 | |
| Research with Impact | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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