Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT)

Company Overview

Nova Pangaea Technologies was founded to address one of the significant challenges facing the transition to a low-carbon economy: how to sustainably and economically process second-generation biomass. Unlike first-generation biofuel producers who rely on food crops such as corn, wheat, or sugarcane, NPT focuses on lignocellulosic biomass — the fibrous, non-edible portions of plants. This includes agricultural residues such as straw, corn stover, and bagasse, along with forestry residues such as wood chips, sawdust, and other woody materials that would otherwise be discarded, burned, or left to decompose.

The company's mission centres on enabling a genuinely sustainable and circular approach to producing renewable fuels and chemicals, thereby reducing dependence on fossil-based resources while avoiding competition with food supply chains. By valorising residues and waste, NPT contributes to decarbonisation efforts across multiple industries, including transport, aviation, and manufacturing.

Core Technology: REFNOVA

At the heart of Nova Pangaea Technologies' operations is its proprietary process technology known as REFNOVA. This patented fractionation technology is designed to efficiently break down lignocellulosic biomass into its core constituent components. Through a continuous, thermochemical process, REFNOVA separates biomass into three primary output streams:

Cellulose-derived sugars — These are fermentable sugars (predominantly C6 and C5 sugars) that serve as feedstock for the production of renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), bioethanol, and a range of biochemicals. The ability to produce these second-generation sugars from waste materials is a key value proposition, as they can replace fossil-derived inputs across numerous industrial applications.

Biochar — A stable, carbon-rich solid product that has multiple valuable end uses. Biochar can be applied to soil to improve fertility, enhance water retention, and sequester carbon over long timescales, making it a tool for both agricultural improvement and carbon removal. It can also serve as a renewable material in other industrial processes.

The REFNOVA process is notable for its efficiency, scalability, and its ability to handle a wide variety of feedstocks. This flexibility is important because it allows the technology to be deployed in different geographical regions where different types of biomass residues are readily available. The process is designed to be economically viable at commercial scale, addressing one of the historical barriers to the adoption of second-generation biomass conversion technologies.

Products and Outputs

Nova Pangaea Technologies delivers value through the products generated by its technology as well as through the licensing and deployment of the technology itself. The principal products and outputs include:

Second-generation sugars — Sustainable, non-food-derived fermentable sugars used as a drop-in replacement for conventional sugars in the production of biofuels and biochemicals. These sugars underpin the manufacture of sustainable aviation fuel and other renewable liquid fuels.

Sustainable aviation fuel feedstock — Through partnerships and demonstration projects, NPT's sugars feed into the production of SAF, which is critical to decarbonising the aviation sector where electrification is not readily feasible.

Biochar for carbon removal and soil enhancement — A durable carbon product that supports carbon sequestration initiatives and improves agricultural soil health.

Renewable chemicals feedstock — The sugar outputs can be further processed into a range of biochemicals, providing sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-derived products.

Key Projects and Partnerships

Nova Pangaea Technologies has been involved in several significant initiatives that demonstrate the commercial application of its technology. Among the most prominent is Project Speedbird, a collaboration involving British Airways and LanzaJet. This project aims to develop a commercial facility in the United Kingdom to produce sustainable aviation fuel from agricultural and forestry residues. In this partnership, NPT's REFNOVA technology converts biomass residues into the second-generation ethanol feedstock, which is then upgraded into sustainable aviation fuel through LanzaJet's alcohol-to-jet process. The project has received support and recognition, including UK government funding aimed at advancing the domestic SAF industry.

These collaborations reflect the company's strategic focus on becoming an integral part of the renewable fuels value chain, working alongside airlines, fuel producers, and technology providers to bring sustainable aviation fuel to commercial reality.

Sustainability and Circular Economy Focus

Central to Nova Pangaea Technologies' identity is its commitment to the principles of the circular economy and sustainability. By focusing exclusively on waste and residue feedstocks, the company avoids the land-use change and food-security concerns that have troubled earlier generations of biofuel production. The conversion of biomass residues into useful products, combined with the carbon-sequestering properties of biochar, gives the company a compelling environmental profile.

The company's technology supports multiple environmental goals simultaneously: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuels, diverting agricultural and forestry residues from disposal or burning, and enabling carbon removal through stable biochar. This alignment with global decarbonisation targets and net-zero commitments positions NPT well within the growing market for climate technology solutions.

Facilities and Operations

Nova Pangaea Technologies operates a demonstration and development facility at Wilton, Teesside, in the North East of England. This location within an established industrial and chemical cluster provides access to relevant infrastructure, expertise, and logistics. The demonstration plant allows the company to validate and scale its REFNOVA technology, produce sample products for partners and customers, and refine its processes ahead of full commercial deployment.

Market Position and Industry Significance

Operating within the biotechnology and life sciences sector, Nova Pangaea Technologies addresses the intersection of clean energy, industrial biotechnology, and sustainable materials. The global demand for sustainable aviation fuel, renewable chemicals, and carbon removal solutions is growing rapidly, driven by regulatory pressures, corporate net-zero commitments, and consumer demand for lower-carbon products.

By providing a proven, scalable route to convert abundant waste biomass into high-value products, NPT plays a significant enabling role in these markets. Its technology helps unlock feedstocks that are essential for scaling up renewable fuel and chemical production without the sustainability drawbacks of food-based alternatives.

Conclusion

Nova Pangaea Technologies represents a UK innovator in the field of second-generation biomass conversion. Through its proprietary REFNOVA technology, the company transforms agricultural and forestry residues into renewable sugars and biochar, supporting the production of sustainable aviation fuel, biochemicals, and carbon-removal solutions. With strategic partnerships in the sustainable aviation fuel sector and a strong commitment to the circular economy, NPT contributes meaningfully to global efforts to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries while advancing a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.