British Airways backs plans for plant that will turn everyday waste into fuel

‘Sustainable fuels can be a game changer for aviation which will help power our aircraft for years to come’

Cathy Adams
Wednesday 21 August 2019 14:57 BST
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British Airways has submitted plans to turn waste into plane fuel
British Airways has submitted plans to turn waste into plane fuel

British Airways has submitted plans for a plant to turn waste into jet fuel that will one day power its aircraft.

The flag carrier has submitted plans to develop a site in northeast Lincolnshire that will turn everyday household and commercial waste into sustainable fuels. It’s slated to be the first plant of its kind in Europe.

The project is in collaboration with oil giant Royal Dutch Shell and Altalto Immingham Limited, a subsidiary of renewable fuels company Velocys.

The plant would take more than 500,000 tonnes of waste a year – non-recyclable waste such as meal packaging and nappies – and convert it into sustainable jet fuel.

If the project gets the go-ahead, the plant will begin construction in 2021 and start producing aviation fuel three years later.

British Airways claims that the fuel will also cut the amount of soot that comes out of aircraft engine exhausts by 90 per cent, and almost completely cut sulphur oxides that are sent into the air by aircraft.

“Sustainable fuels can be a game changer for aviation which will help power our aircraft for years to come,” says Alex Cruz, British Airways chairman and CEO.

“This development is an important step in the reduction of our carbon emissions and meeting the industry targets of carbon neutral growth from 2020, and a 50 per cent in CO2 reduction by 2050 from 2005 levels.

“It also brings the UK another step closer to becoming a global leader in sustainable aviation fuels.”

The parent group of British Airways, International Airlines Group (IAG), is set to invest a total of $400m on alternative sustainable fuel development over the next 20 years.

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