Nova Pangaea Technologies

Nova Pangaea Technologies, founded in 2014 by Peter North and John Nicholas, is a cleantech company that developed REFNOVA® in 2008, a proprietary technology for converting non-food biomass into high-value products. Headquartered at Wilton International in Redcar, UK, the company operates from a major manufacturing site where it runs a demonstration plant for its technology. The company's core business revolves around its patented REFNOVA® process, which transforms agricultural and woody residues—such as straw, wood waste, and sugarcane bagasse—into second-generation (2G) bioethanol and a co-product called biochar. The process involves pre-treating the feedstock, followed by a proprietary step known as Steam Assisted Rapid Pyrolysis (SARP®), and then converting the resulting vapour stream into fermentable sugars without the use of enzymes. These sugars are then fermented to produce bioethanol. Nova Pangaea's business model focuses on licensing its REFNOVA® technology to partners and developing its own commercial-scale production facilities. A key application for its bioethanol is the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through the alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) pathway, targeting the hard-to-decarbonize aviation sector. The biochar, known as NOVACHAR, serves as a valuable carbon removal product with applications in soil enhancement and as a component in materials like cement and asphalt. This dual-product strategy provides two distinct revenue streams. The company has secured significant partnerships and funding. It is a key partner in 'Project Speedbird,' a collaboration with International Airlines Group (IAG) (the parent company of British Airways) and LanzaJet, supported by UK government funding to develop a commercial SAF production facility. IAG is also a direct investor, along with others like Par Equity, the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and Mercia Ventures, with the company having raised over £21 million in equity and £7 million in grants. The company's first commercial plant, 'NOVAONE', is planned for the Teesside region, with a goal to produce biofuels by 2025. In early 2026, veteran cleantech leader Stewart Stewart was appointed CEO to guide the company's global growth, succeeding Sarah Ellerby. Keywords: REFNOVA, biomass conversion, sustainable aviation fuel, SAF, bioethanol, biochar, cleantech, second-generation biofuels, alcohol-to-jet, carbon removal, agricultural waste, woody residue, pyrolysis, decarbonisation, LanzaJet, British Airways, Project Speedbird, IAG investment, Wilton International, Teesside, non-food feedstock, circular economy, green fuels, advanced biofuels