British Airways green fuel plant to be based in Essex
Gwyn Topham, Guardian Sustainable Business
17th April 2014
A delayed project to supply British Airways (BA) with jet fuel from converted waste is a step closer after it was announced a location has been found for the GreenSky fuel plant, in Thurrock, Essex.
The GreenSky project will see BA commit to buy all 50,000 tonnes of jet fuel produced at the processing facility for at least 11 years. The plant, operated by Solena Fuels, is to be built by 2017 on the site of the former Coryton oil refinery, creating 150 permanent jobs.
BA said the facility would be the world’s first to convert landfill waste into jet fuel. Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent company IAG, said: “We are always striving to reduce our impact on climate change and this first-of-its-kind project marks a significant step for the aviation industry. The sustainable jet fuel produced each year will be enough to power our flights from London City Airport twice over with carbon savings the equivalent of taking 150,000 cars off the road.”
Solena Fuels has been developing the project, which will use its own patented technology alongside current techniques to convert everyday waste into gas and then into a range of liquid fuels.
BA said the facility would be the world’s first to convert landfill waste into jet fuel. Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent company IAG, said: “We are always striving to reduce our impact on climate change and this first-of-its-kind project marks a significant step for the aviation industry. The sustainable jet fuel produced each year will be enough to power our flights from London City Airport twice over with carbon savings the equivalent of taking 150,000 cars off the road.”
Solena Fuels has been developing the project, which will use its own patented technology alongside current techniques to convert everyday waste into gas and then into a range of liquid fuels.
Like this story? Please subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter at the top of the page for more content like this.
This story has been published under licence from Guardian Sustainable Business, of which GreenWise is an editorial partner.
Related content:
