Clean Fuel
Made from Sunlight
An integrated, photosynthesis-inspired route to clean fuel production.
Today’s clean fuel production methods rely on multi-step, energy-intensive processes that drive up cost and complexity.
This has slowed deployment and left hard-to-abate sectors with few viable alternatives to fossil fuels.
We need a better way.
Inspired by Nature. Engineered for Industry.
We use a single-step, light-driven process to convert captured CO₂ and water directly into clean fuels — no electrolyser required.
At the core is our proprietary catalyst, which makes photocatalysis commercially viable.
The result is a scalable, low-energy route to circular fuel production.
A New, Better Way to Make Clean Fuels
In-situ Hydrogen Production
Water splitting is built directly into the reaction pathway; eliminating the need for separate hydrogen production infrastructure.
Clean Fuel in a Single Step
Our process occurs in a single step, reducing complexity while making it easy to scale.
Low Energy Requirements
We use direct sunlight to drive our process, dramatically reducing energy requirements.
Benefits
Our technology delivers practical, compounding advantages that improve operations today and strengthen resilience for tomorrow.
Reduced OPEX
In-situ water splitting and utilisation of direct sunlight eliminate electrolysers and reduces requirements for renewable energy.
Easy to Scale
Driven by our proprietary catalyst, we produce clean fuels in a single-step process. This means lower capex and faster time to market.
Fully Circular
Our process turns an emission liability, CO2, into a revenue‑generating clean fuel, closing the carbon loop for industry.
Our Journey
Founded
June 25
White Lotus Energies launched through Carbon13 to develop fuels made from CO₂ and water using light.
39% Gain
Apr. 26
Process optimisation improved catalyst performance by 39% and demonstrated ethanol production.
Grant Award
Sept. 25
UK Department for Transport and Connected Places Catapult funding supported our first technical development programme.
Patent filed
June 26
We filed our first patent application to protect the catalyst technology.
First Raise
Nov. 25
Carbon13 made its first investment in White Lotus Energies.
Methane Produced
July 26
We demonstrated methane production and increased its rate by 166% in the second round of testing.
Catalyst Validated
Jan. 26
Our proprietary catalyst exceeded a leading published photocatalyst’s methanol production rate when tested in the same system.
TRL 4
Aug. 26
Validated the catalyst and reactor working together under controlled laboratory conditions, advancing the technology to TRL 4.
Meet the Team
Our team unites deep technical expertise with commercial experience to turn breakthrough science into real-world impact.
CTO & Co-founder
Dr. Isuru Muthukuda
Photochemist and synthetic chemist specialising in light-driven reactions and nature-inspired catalyst design. He holds a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Sheffield.
CEO & Co-founder
Chantelle Arneaud
Founder and CEO with over 20 years’ experience in commercial strategy across technology businesses. She has helped scale a startup through to exit and spent five years helping founders develop fundraising strategies.
COO & Co-founder
Harsh Bhuta
Chemical engineer with 10 years’ experience in industrial manufacturing and biotech. At Johnson Matthey, he supported more than 50 hydrogen plants and improved operating profit at a catalyst manufacturing facility by 20%. He later launched a continuous manufacturing platform at a biotech startup.
