British Airways plans to turn trash into jet fuel

New Atlas:
British Airways has announced plans to create a set of waste plants that turn regular household garbage – or since we're talking about plans for the UK, rubbish – into jet fuel for its fleet.| The plan, currently being assessed in collaboration with renewable fuels company Velocys, is part of a program designed to cut fleet-wide emissions in half by 2050. .. Continue Reading British Airways plans to turn trash into jet fuel



British Airways Press release:


British Airways has entered a partnership to design a series of waste plants that convert household waste into renewable jet fuel to power its fleet.

The partnership, with Velocys, a renewable fuels company, is part of the airline’s plans to develop long-term, sustainable fuel options.

The first plant will take hundreds of thousands of tonnes of household waste per-year, destined for landfill or incineration, including nappies, plastic food containers and chocolate bar wrappers, and convert it into clean-burning, sustainable fuels. This will contribute to the airline’s commitment to reduce net emissions by 50 per cent by 2050.

As well as helping the airline industry reduce its carbon emissions this initiative will also significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The UK still sends more than 15 million tonnes of waste per year to landfill sites which not only damages our natural environment but also releases further greenhouse gases affecting climate change.

The planned plant will produce enough fuel to power all British Airways’ 787 Dreamliner operated flights from London to San Jose, California and New Orleans, Louisiana for a whole year. It would be the first plant of this scale. The airline plans to supply its aircraft fleet with increasing amounts of sustainable jet fuel in the next decade.

The jet fuel produced at the plant will deliver more than 60 per cent greenhouse gas reduction, compared with conventional fossil fuel, delivering 60,000 tonnes of CO2 savings every year. This will contribute to both global carbon emissions reductions and local air quality improvements around major airports.

During the past week the Department for Transport has published changes to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO), and for the first time, sustainable jet fuel will be included in its incentive scheme. These changes to the RTFO are designed to promote sustainable aviation. Once implemented, they are expected to provide long term policy support for this market.

Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: “Sustainable fuels will play an increasingly critical role in global aviation, and we are preparing for that future.

“Turning household waste into jet fuel is an amazing innovation that produces clean fuel while reducing landfill.

“From developing innovative operating techniques, to investing in the most modern and efficient aircraft, we have a strong track record in researching, identifying and implementing ways to reduce emissions.

“This partnership continues this tradition, and shows how we are investing in our long-term future – and that of our customers.”


Velocys Press release

Partnership formed, aimed at waste-to-jet-fuel plants in UK

Velocys plc (VLS.L), the renewable fuels company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a partnership to prepare the business case for a commercial scale waste-to-renewable-jet-fuel plant in the UK. Velocys will lead this initial feasibility stage of the project, for which all members of the partnership are providing funding. Subject to this and to the successful completion of all development stages, the aim is to achieve a final investment decision in 2019.

The members of the partnership include:
British Airways, the UK's largest international airline, which intends to fly with the jet fuel made in the plant;
Suez, a world leading expert in recycling and waste management, which intends to provide technical and operational expertise and manage the supply of feedstock to the project;
Norma, an affiliate of Ervington Investments, Velocys' largest investor, which is a potential investor in the project;
Velocys, which intends to supply its technology to the plant and provide project management, engineering, operations and technical service support to the project going forward.

The plant would take hundreds of thousands of tonnes per year of post-recycled waste, destined for landfill or incineration, and convert it into clean-burning, sustainable fuels. The jet fuel produced is expected to deliver over 60% greenhouse gas reduction and 90% reduction in particulate matter emissions compared with conventional jet fuel, thereby contributing to both carbon emissions reductions and local air quality improvements around major airports.

Velocys believes that there is the opportunity to develop a series of waste-to-jet fuel plants in the UK. The changes to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) recently published by the Department for Transport provide the required commercial platform for this opportunity; for the first time, jet fuel is to qualify for credits under the RTFO. These changes to the RTFO are designed to promote sustainable aviation and heavy goods transport; once implemented, they are expected to provide long term policy support for this market.

The Company and its partners anticipate making further announcements concerning the project as it progresses.

David Pummell, CEO of Velocys, said:
"Our strategy remains highly focused on exploiting the large US market for cellulosic renewable fuels. Alongside the excellent progress we are making there, we believe that the recently announced RTFO changes will allow the UK to become a world leader in sustainable jet fuel. We are very pleased to be working with world class partners to help execute the vision of a repeatable series of plants, offering a commercially attractive route to a highly desirable product for an industry that now demands significant greenhouse gas reduction solutions. This opportunity leverages further our technology, integrated plant design and skills base, and is consistent with our renewable fuels strategy of delivering integrated plant solutions, in collaboration with partners, to fulfil a real market need."