British Airways first-of-its-kind waste to jet fuel project finds technology provider

Europe’s first waste to jet fuel production plant came a step closer to construction this week as UK-based Oxford Catalysts were selected as the sole technology suppliers to the joint British Airways and Solena GreenSky project.

British Airways and US bioenergy group Solena have been working together since 2009, in order to build europe’s first sustainable jet fuel production plant, GreenSky London.

Now, after a formal evaluation of the available technologies, Oxford Catalysts have been selected as the sole supplier of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology for the project.

Solena has also entered into an understanding with the group for the supply of FT units to all its future biomass to liquids projects, including GreenSky California, Rome and Stockholm.

The decision is a major coup for Oxford Catalysts, who were chosen because their technology offered modular sizing and the advantages of high-efficiency, fixed bed reactors.

Following the announcement Roy Lipski, Chief Executive of Oxford Catalysts, said: “Our selection for this project ahead of conventional technology from larger companies is further evidence of the superiority of our offering. We are pleased to be part of the GreenSky London project and to contribute to British Airways’ strategy for sustainable aviation and Solena’s worldwide roll out plan.”

The company estimate that the successful implementation of the GreenSky London project will generate revenues for the group in excess of $30 million during the construction phase and more than $50 million over the first fifteen years of the plant’s operation.

The plant to be built in an as yet unnamed site near London could eventually convert 500,000 tonnes of locally-sourced waste biomass feedstock into 16 million gallons of jet biofuel, 8 million gallons of BioNaphta and 40 MW of power of renewable electricity.

British Airways hope the project will be operational by 2015 and produce at least half of the airline’s fuel needs for its London City Airport operations.

NNFCC have been advising British Airways on the sustainability implications of their venture and have provided technology support to ensure the project delivers value for money.

Source

NNFCC, 2012-07-04.

Supplier

British Airways
Oxford Catalysts
Solena-Group

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