LONDON: August 28, 2017. The British government is offering £22 million to develop low carbon waste-based fuels to power commercial aircraft and trucks.
The government's Department of Transport says it has already had interest from 70 groups bidding for the funding.
In April 2014 British Airways and Solena Fuels announced they would develop the world's first facility to convert landfill waste into jet fuel on a former oil refinery site in Thurrock, Essex (pictured).
The goal was to take 575,000 tonnes of post-recycled waste, normally destined for landfill or incineration, and convert it into 120,000 tonnes of clean burning aviation fuel using Solena technology. BA made a long-term commitment to purchase 50,000 tonnes per annum of the new product.
Speaking at the launch of the project IAG Group CEO Willie Walsh 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."
Two years later the two companies abandoned the £340 million 'Green Sky' project citing lack of UK government support. Solena filed for bankruptcy in late 2015.
The latest government plan now claims low carbon transport fuels made from waste materials could add £600 million a year to the British economy by 2030 and support "up to 9,800 new jobs".
UK Transport minister Jesse Norman commented: "We are making funding available to innovative businesses which will lead the way in developing alternative fuels that are efficient, sustainable and clean.
"We want every new car and van in the UK to be zero emission by 2040, but we know lorries and aeroplanes will rely on more traditional fuels for years to come so we must promote environmentally friendly alternatives," he declared.
The government says its latest low-carbon competition is part of a "modern industrial strategy".
