The UK’s pioneering Project Starling reaches a key engineering milestone, bringing closer its goal of producing over 25,000 tonnes of low-carbon aviation fuel annually by 2031, marking a significant step in domestic sustainable aviation fuel development.
Carbon Neutral Fuels, io consulting and Mission Zero Technologies have taken a further step towards what they say could become one of the UK’s most significant synthetic aviation fuel projects, after completing the FEL3A stage for Project Starling.
The Workington-based scheme is being developed as a first-of-its-kind eSAF plant designed to make synthetic hydrocarbons from captured CO₂, water and low-carbon electricity. According to the project partners, the latest phase has brought together licensor technology packages into a single integrated design, alongside safety studies and a detailed 3D model of the facility. That, they say, supports a Class 3 cost estimate and gives the project a firmer basis for the next stage of development.
Project Starling is being positioned as a commercial-scale Power-to-Liquids facility with a planned output of more than 25,000 tonnes of fuel a year by 2031. Carbon Neutral Fuels says that would be enough to cover around 35% to 40% of the UK’s mandated Power-to-Liquid SAF supply in 2030, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by about 95% compared with conventional Jet A-1.
The project has already benefited from support through the UK Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund, which backs first-of-a-kind commercial and demonstration-scale fuel projects. Government material on the fund shows it is aimed at technologies that can deliver substantial lifecycle emissions reductions, helping to move advanced fuels from concept towards deployment.
io consulting said the earlier FEL2 pre-FEED phase focused on technology selection, system integration and cost modelling, laying the groundwork for the more detailed definition now completed. In practical terms, the move from concept into a more mature engineering package matters because capital efficiency, constructability and execution planning often determine whether industrial decarbonisation projects progress beyond the drawing board.
For Mission Zero Technologies, the project is also another application for direct air capture in a fuel value chain rather than in carbon storage alone. The company has been building a portfolio of projects that use atmospheric CO₂ as a feedstock, and its role in Project Starling underlines how DAC is increasingly being tied to synthetic fuels, not just to removals markets.
Stephanie Ng, project director at Carbon Neutral Fuels, said completing FEL3A gives the team greater confidence in the project’s definition and delivery route. Richard Dyson, chief executive of io consulting, said the stage is where projects move beyond concept and into something that can be delivered, while Nicholas Chadwick, chief executive of Mission Zero Technologies, said the milestone reflects the growing role of DAC in enabling scalable low-carbon fuels.
The wider significance of Project Starling lies in what it represents for the UK’s eSAF ambitions. Synthetic aviation fuel remains a difficult proposition commercially, with high power demand, complex process integration and heavy upfront capital requirements. But projects such as Starling suggest the sector is beginning to move through the engineering stages that will be needed if the UK is to build a domestic supply chain for lower-carbon aviation fuels rather than rely solely on imports.
- https://decarbonisationtechnology.com/news/2880/project-starling-reaches-major-milestone-strengthening-pathway-to-uk-esaf-realisation – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://chemxplore.com/news/project-starling-major-milestone – This article reports that Carbon Neutral Fuels, io consulting, and Mission Zero Technologies have completed FEL3A for Project Starling, advancing the Workington-based eSAF project. The completion includes integrating licensor technology into a single facility design, conducting key safety studies, and producing a detailed 3D plant model. The project aims to produce up to 25,000 tonnes per annum of synthetic hydrocarbons by 2031, using captured CO₂, water, and low-carbon electricity, achieving a 95% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional Jet A-1 fuel. ([chemxplore.com](https://chemxplore.com/news/project-starling-major-milestone?utm_source=openai))
- https://ioconsulting.com/case-studies/project-starling-asap-dac-prefeed – This case study details the Pre-FEED (FEL2) phase of Project Starling, where io consulting, in partnership with Carbon Neutral Fuels and Mission Zero Technologies, progressed the technical and commercial development of the UK’s first commercial-scale Power-to-Liquids Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility. The phase focused on increasing technical definition of key process units, confirming technology selections, improving system integration, refining cost and economic modelling, and positioning the project for FEED and future investment. ([ioconsulting.com](https://ioconsulting.com/case-studies/project-starling-asap-dac-prefeed?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-fuels-fund-competition-winners/advanced-fuels-fund-aff-competition-winners – This official UK government publication lists the winners of the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) competition, which provides grant funding to first-of-a-kind commercial and demonstration-scale projects in the UK. The publication includes details of the winning organisations for each window of the competition, highlighting projects that have demonstrated their potential to produce sustainable aviation fuel capable of reducing emissions by more than 65% on a lifecycle basis when used in place of conventional fossil jet fuel. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-fuels-fund-competition-winners/advanced-fuels-fund-aff-competition-winners?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.missionzero.tech/projects – Mission Zero Technologies showcases various projects where their technology is used to rebalance the climate and displace fossil fuels. Notable projects include O.C.O Technology’s carbon-negative building materials made from CO₂, the University of Sheffield’s pioneering jet fuel made from air, and Deep Sky’s initiative in Canada to validate DAC technology for gigatonne-scale commercial deployment. ([missionzero.tech](https://www.missionzero.tech/projects?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/projects/asap-dac – Carbon Neutral Fuels provides an overview of Project Starling, a UK-based Power-to-Liquid E-Fuel facility designed to deliver 25,000 tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel annually. The project aims to produce long-chain hydrocarbons using air, water, and low-carbon electricity, creating synthetic fuels that can significantly reduce lifecycle carbon emissions compared to conventional Jet A-1 kerosene. The facility is currently in the Front-End-Loading design process, with an expected completion date of 2031. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/projects/asap-dac?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.missionzero.tech/about – Mission Zero Technologies is a collective of scientists, engineers, and creative thinkers on a mission to reinvent carbon for a thriving planet. They develop technology to efficiently recover CO₂ from the atmosphere at any scale, aiming to turn atmospheric CO₂ into a resource for producing various products, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and rebalancing the climate. ([missionzero.tech](https://www.missionzero.tech/about?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on Project Starling’s completion of the FEL3A phase, a significant milestone in the UK’s first commercial-scale power-to-liquid eSAF facility. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/news?utm_source=openai)) The FEL3A phase was completed in early June 2026, and the article was published on June 12, 2026, indicating freshness. However, the article’s content closely mirrors a press release from Carbon Neutral Fuels, which may affect originality. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/news?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Stephanie Ng, Richard Dyson, and Nicholas Chadwick. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/news?utm_source=openai)) These quotes are identical to those in the press release dated June 12, 2026. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/news?utm_source=openai)) The repetition of these quotes suggests potential reuse of content, raising concerns about originality. Additionally, the lack of independent verification of these quotes further diminishes their credibility.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The article originates from decarbonisationtechnology.com, a niche publication. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/news?utm_source=openai)) While the publication focuses on decarbonisation technologies, its limited reach and potential biases may affect the reliability of the information presented. The article’s heavy reliance on a press release from Carbon Neutral Fuels further raises concerns about source independence and potential conflicts of interest.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article discusses Project Starling’s completion of the FEL3A phase, a significant milestone in the development of the UK’s first commercial-scale power-to-liquid eSAF facility. ([carbonneutralfuels.com](https://www.carbonneutralfuels.com/news?utm_source=openai)) The project has been previously reported, and the claims align with known information. However, the lack of independent verification and the reliance on a press release from Carbon Neutral Fuels raise questions about the article’s credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article’s heavy reliance on a press release from Carbon Neutral Fuels, the repetition of direct quotes without independent verification, and the lack of independent sources raise significant concerns about its credibility and originality. These factors lead to a FAIL verdict with high confidence.
