HutanBio Ltd, UK/Asian based climate technology company developing zero-carbon biofuels for long-distance transport, today announced the promotion of Brittany Hook to Chief Commercial Officer. Formerly Business Development Director, Hook will now lead global commercial strategy as the company advances towards its first production facility in 2026, according to the press release.
The milestone facility, a 3–5-hectare FOAK desert installation, will mark HutanBio’s transition from pilot to commercial deployment, producing net-negative bio-oil at costs in line with used cooking oil market prices.
“We’re moving from validation to deployment,” said Hook. “Our technology is proven, partnerships are advancing, and the market is ready. My focus is securing commercial agreements that deliver immediate carbon savings while laying the foundation for rapid global scale-up.”
Hook brings 13 years of experience in the energy transition, combining chemical engineering expertise with technical sales and project management across the downstream energy sector. Since joining HutanBio, she has played a pivotal role in developing strategic partnerships and establishing the commercial framework for market entry.
Her promotion follows a critical milestone: independent ISO-compliant life cycle assessment confirming HutanBio’s HBx microalgal biofuel achieves net-negative carbon emissions during production – meaning it removes more CO 2 than it emits. This validation positions HutanBio as a practical, commercially viable, sustainable fuel solution for shipping, aviation, and heavy transport operators facing urgent decarbonisation mandates.
First Commercial Facility:
Set to break ground in Q2 2026, this first-of-its-kind site will demonstrate HutanBio’s energy platform at commercial scale and serve as a template for rapid replication across coastal desert regions worldwide.
Size: 3-5 hectares non-arable desert land
Design: Modular, cost-engineered automated energy platform for rapid global scaleup
Resource efficiency: Seawater-based system requiring no freshwater or agricultural land
Yield advantage: >10x productivity versus legacy algae and oil crops
Sustainability impact: Life-cycle carbon intensity -20.96 gCO 2 e/MJ
Output: Net negative bio-oil compatible with existing energy infrastructure
Paul Beastall, HutanBio CEO, commented:
“Brittany has built the commercial approach that allows us to move at pace. Her ability to turn technical innovation into market opportunity has been central to our journey from lab to deployment, and this promotion recognises her impact.”
Jonathan Tudor, Investor Director, added:
“This appointment reflects both Brittany’s performance and HutanBio’s readiness to scale. She is the right leader to bring HBx technology to market.”
HutanBio’s model – high-yield biofuel production on desert land using seawater – provides a pathway to expanding clean energy supply without competing for food or freshwater resources. By pairing scalable economics with a net-negative carbon footprint, the company is emerging as a next-generation fuel provider for hard-to-abate industries.
A single square kilometre of cultivation can produce around 4,500 tonnes of bio-oil annually while removing 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere.
This appointment also speaks to a critical industry challenge: taking breakthrough clean technologies from the lab to global deployment. With the biofuels market projected to nearly double to $200 billion by 2030, HutanBio is uniquely positioned to scale capacity while avoiding the constraints facing may other biofuel technologies (water use, agricultural land, or food-based feedstocks).
Beyond her commercial leadership, Hook is a champion for diversity in STEM and clean energy, reflecting HutanBio’s commitment to inclusive, forward-looking leadership.
