Clean Energy Startup Opens Major Synthetic Gas Factory in London
London, Wednesday, 7 October 2026.
Rivan Industries has opened a 5,574 m² London factory to produce synthetic gas systems, remarkably securing advance sales for its entire production run through 2029.
Production Base 1 Inauguration
Rivan Industries has officially opened Production Base 1, a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located in London, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion within the clean technology sector [1]. The inauguration took place on 6 October 2026, establishing the site as the company’s first manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom [1]. The facility is dedicated to producing specialized hardware designed for generating synthetic natural gas (SNG), highlighting growing corporate momentum in scalable clean-energy alternatives [1]. This infrastructure investment aims to complement existing gas networks as global markets seek decarbonization technologies [1]. The site includes 25,000 square feet of dedicated research and development space, consolidating engineering and manufacturing teams to address production bottlenecks [3].
Technology and Process Overview
The manufacturing center focuses on building 1MW modular synthetic natural gas systems that utilize off-grid solar electricity to synthesize hydrogen and carbon dioxide [1]. Rivan’s 1MW modular architecture integrates an alkaline electrolyser, Sabatier reactor, power management, and controls to convert electricity, water, and CO2 into synthetic methane [3]. Current systems rely on external biogenic CO2 sourced from nearby anaerobic digestion plants, though plans exist to integrate proprietary direct air capture technology as the subsystem scales [3]. Because the synthetic fuel meets national gas grid specifications, it can be injected directly into existing pipeline infrastructure without requiring midstream modifications or end-user equipment overhauls [4]. This grid-compliant nature allows for immediate integration into the UK energy mix [4].
Production Capacity and Scaling Plans
Once fully operational, the semi-automated plant is designed to produce up to 50 of Rivan’s 1MW modular SNG systems annually [4]. This production target represents a total annual module capacity of 50 MW of synthetic natural gas systems per year [2]. The company has already secured advance sales for its entire production run through 2029, indicating strong market demand [5]. Looking ahead, Rivan intends for this facility to serve as a template for future factories, with a second plant (PB2) planned to deliver 10 to 20 times the output in 2028 [5]. This scaling strategy is intended to shift synthetic fuel equipment from bespoke project builds to standardized, repeatable manufacturing [3].
Strategic Targets and Recruitment
Rivan Industries aims to bring up to 1TWh of grid-compliant synthetic natural gas online across the UK over the next three years [4]. To support this ramped-up operations at Production Base 1, the company has initiated a recruitment drive to fill over 100 roles within the next 12 months [1]. These roles span production, assembly, supply chain, and regulatory compliance to support the transition to repeatable manufacturing [3]. The company employs over 50 people currently, recruiting engineering talent from the UK, US, Canada, and Australia [1]. This expansion follows the successful deployment of its first 1MW SNG system in Wiltshire in August 2026 [1].
Energy Security and Market Impact
The commercial scale-up addresses UK energy security vulnerabilities, where imported fossil gas currently accounts for approximately 60% of national supply [4]. Developing a domestic supply chain for SNG in the UK will be critical for strengthening UK energy security [4]. Rivan Industries was founded in 2024 and has raised £25 million to scale domestic synthetic fuel production in Europe [5]. The structural driver remains energy security, with the International Energy Agency putting the UK’s import share of natural gas at 49.2 per cent in 2025 [5]. By localizing production, Rivan aims to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels while utilizing existing infrastructure [4].
Future Outlook and Industry Context
The facility opening follows the deployment of Rivan’s initial 1MW commercial demonstration system in Wiltshire in August 2026 [4]. Management describes Production Base 1 as a blueprint for future factories, allowing the team to understand production from raw materials to deployment before scaling up [5]. The company says it has sold its entire planned production until 2029, underscoring the market readiness for these decarbonization technologies [5]. As the world’s largest facility of its kind dedicated to producing modular synthetic natural gas plants, it positions Europe for greater energy independence [5]. This development signals a tangible step toward industrializing synthetic fuel hardware manufacturing [3].