UK-based startup Rivan is scaling its solar fuel technology as it looks to recruit engineers to support the next phase of development. The company is focused on producing low-cost, low-carbon fuel for heavy industry, a sector responsible for around a quarter of global carbon emissions.

Rivan’s approach centres on converting sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into a synthetic gas designed to replace fossil fuels. The company has developed a proprietary machine that combines direct air capture with solar-powered processes to generate fuel using atmospheric CO2.

The system removes carbon dioxide from the air and uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The captured CO2 is then combined with hydrogen to produce a synthetic gas. This fuel is chemically identical to fossil gas, allowing it to be used within existing industrial systems without requiring changes to infrastructure.

This compatibility is intended to address one of the main barriers to decarbonising heavy industry. Sectors such as steel, cement, aviation and manufacturing rely on established fuel systems that are often difficult and costly to replace. Drop-in alternatives offer a pathway to reduce emissions without large-scale operational disruption.

Rivan designs and manufactures its technology in-house, covering components from electrolysis systems to fuel synthesis reactors. The company operates an iterative development model, testing and refining new concepts on a frequent basis. According to the company, this approach allows for rapid deployment and continuous improvement of its systems.

The current phase of growth is focused on scaling both the technology and the workforce. Rivan is aiming to reduce the cost of its synthetic fuel to a level comparable with fossil fuels, which remains a key factor in wider adoption across industrial sectors.

To support this, the company is recruiting for more than 20 roles, with a particular focus on solar engineers and candidates with practical, hands-on experience. Rivan has indicated an interest in applicants who have worked on independent or experimental projects, reflecting its emphasis on problem-solving and rapid prototyping.

Engineers joining the company are expected to take on significant responsibility in the development process. The organisation states that team members are involved directly in shaping projects and contributing to technical decisions, with an emphasis on applied engineering outcomes.

The hiring drive reflects broader trends across the clean energy sector, where demand for technical talent continues to rise. As companies work to commercialise new energy systems, access to engineering expertise is becoming a limiting factor in scaling deployment.

Rivan’s focus on solar-derived fuels sits within a wider landscape of efforts to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. While electrification has progressed in areas such as transport and heating, heavy industry presents distinct challenges due to high energy requirements and existing infrastructure dependencies.

Synthetic fuels produced from renewable energy and captured carbon are one of several approaches under development. By using atmospheric CO2 as a feedstock, these fuels aim to create a closed carbon cycle, where emissions released during use are offset by the carbon captured during production.

The economic viability of such systems depends on reducing production costs while maintaining efficiency. Achieving cost parity with fossil fuels is widely seen as a threshold for large-scale adoption, particularly in industries where margins are sensitive to energy prices.

Rivan’s internal development model is intended to accelerate this process. By controlling design and manufacturing, the company aims to shorten development cycles and reduce reliance on external supply chains. This approach also allows for tighter integration between different components of the system.

Alongside technical development, the company is positioning its workplace culture as part of its growth strategy. Rivan offers a range of benefits including competitive salaries, share options, flexible leave and relocation support for employees moving closer to its headquarters.

The emphasis on attracting engineers with experimental and practical experience reflects the nature of the technology being developed. Early-stage energy systems often require iterative testing and adaptation, where unconventional approaches and hands-on skills can play a key role.

As the company expands, its progress will depend on its ability to scale production while maintaining performance and cost targets. The development of synthetic fuels remains an area of active investment and research, with multiple pathways being explored across the sector.

Rivan’s focus on solar-driven fuel production adds to a growing set of technologies aimed at reducing industrial emissions. The coming years are expected to determine how these approaches perform at scale, and whether they can compete with established energy systems on both cost and reliability.