British Airways to turn household rubbish into jet fuel
On September 18, 2017, British Airways announced partnering with a renewable fuels company Velocys to design a series of plants that convert household waste into renewable jet fuel.
The first plant should take hundreds of thousands of tons 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, British Airways informs. The jet fuel produced at the plant will deliver more than 60% greenhouse gas reduction, compared with conventional fossil fuel, delivering 60,000 tons of CO2 savings every year. Thanks to new development, the airlines expect to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2050.
“The UK still sends more than 15 million tons of waste per year to landfill sites which not only damages our natural environment but also releases further greenhouse gases affecting climate change” – informs British Airways in the official statement.
According to British Airways, 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. The airline plans to supply its aircraft fleet with increasing amounts of sustainable jet fuel in the next 10 years.
“Turning household waste into jet fuel is an amazing innovation that produces clean fuel while reducing landfill,” said IAG chief executive Willie Walsh.
In 2014, British Airways has already announced about its plan to buy 50,000 tons of jet fuel made from converted waste as part of Green Sky project, the Guardian informs.
Source: aerotime.aero
