June 16, 2026 – Carbonology has officially broken ground on its 1,000-ton direct air capture (DAC) to sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) pilot plant in Ningdong, marking a major step forward in the company’s journey. Carbonology is among the first companies in China to develop synthetic fuels using CO₂ captured directly from air. Its approach is built on three core inputs—sunlight, water, and air—enabling a fully integrated pathway from carbon capture to fuel production, with the ultimate goal of replacing fossil-derived carbon. 

The project comes five months after the launch of Carbonology’s 100-ton pilot demonstration line in Lingang, Shanghai on January 23, 2026. The rapid transition from lab-scale testing to 1,000-ton scale industrial pilot sets an unmatched industry pace, cementing the company’s global leadership in e-SAF production.

Located in Ningdong, the project benefits from access to low-cost renewable power, established energy infrastructure, and ample land availability. The pilot plant will focus on three priorities: validating the integration of DAC, renewable-powered hydrogen production, and fuel synthesis, optimizing AI-enabled process control to handle variable renewable energy input, and improving system efficiency and cost performance to enable broader commercial rollout.

The pilot facility is built to deliver three core industrial objectives:

1.  Fully validate the end-to-end industrial viability of integrated DAC, direct renewable power drive and flexible synthetic manufacturing;

2.  Resolve production continuity challenges posed by intermittent renewable power supply;

3.  Overcome energy consumption and cost barriers at the kiloton scale, delivering a replicable, deployable industrial engineering blueprint.

“Our rapid progression from technical validation at our Lingang pilot site to industrial-scale construction here in Ningdong speaks volumes about the robustness of our technology and the execution capability of our team,” said Robin Ren, Co-Founder and Chairman. “This Ningdong facility is far more than a pilot plant — it is our global commercialization proving ground. History shows transformative energy shifts unfold in decisive moments: Edison’s practical incandescent lamp in 1879 rendered kerosene lamps obsolete after a millennium, while mass-market electric vehicles redefined global transportation energy barely a decade ago. Years from now, this groundbreaking will be remembered as the day we ignited a full-scale revolution against fossil fuels.”

Andrew Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO, added: “Today, June 16, a date marked by repeated sixes that symbolize smooth progress, we break ground on our kiloton-scale plant. It has been exactly 606 days since our company’s founding, a journey defined by unwavering mission and relentless problem-solving. Construction will span six months, with commissioning slated for December. Challenges lie ahead, yet united by aligned goals, our partners and team will drive this project to steady, successful completion. Beginning with Ningdong, we will realize the vision of turning air into usable fuel at industrial scale.”

Since its founding in October 2024, the company has executed against a clear growth roadmap:

2026: Complete construction of the kiloton pilot facility to conduct industrial validation

2027: Launch China’s first commercial ten-thousand-ton scale e-SAF production plant, extending its global lead in air-to-fuel manufacturing

2027+: Establish a global footprint, supplying zero-carbon fuels to aviation markets worldwide.

The Ningdong groundbreaking represents more than real-world industrial proof of Carbonogy’s core thesis that CO₂ represents the energy feedstock of tomorrow. It stands as a tangible showcase of the company’s dual growth drivers: cutting-edge technical innovation paired with accelerated commercial deployment.