As part of Shell, British Airways and Velocys' plans to build Europe's first large-scale facility producing jet fuel from household waste, aircraft can be powered by jet fuel made from household waste from 2024. and commercial.
Aviation accounts for around 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, but at a time when countries are trying to limit emissions to reduce climate change, this figure is expected to increase as air transport increases.
The aviation industry aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels and sees the emergence of low-carbon biofuels as a vital step towards achieving this goal. .
Shell, BA and Velocys, which have applied for building permits for the factory from local authorities in northeast Lincolnshire, are targeting domestic or commercial blackbag waste that would otherwise go to landfills or incinerators.
Energy from waste is widely used in the energy sector, where household waste such as food or grass clippings is burned to generate electricity.
"Sustainable fuels can be a game changer in aviation, which will power our aircraft for years," said Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways.
Construction on the Altalto Immingham project near the Humber Estuary in the northeast of England could begin in 2021, with the site producing sustainable aviation fuel in commercial volumes three years later. Altalto Immingham Ltd is a subsidiary of the fuel technology company Velocys.
A planning decision is expected from the North East Lincolnshire Council in late November.
The three companies have so far invested £ 7.3 million ($ 8.8 million) in the project, and construction is expected to cost hundreds of millions of pounds as a result.
The UK government also provided about 0.5 million funding for the project, which could create approximately 130 permanent jobs.
Velocys said British Airways and Shell will also purchase produced biofuel that emits approximately 70% less greenhouse gases compared to its fossil fuel equivalent.