British Airways has announced that it intends to convert landfill waste into jet fuel. The company is supporting the creation of a facility in Essex to produce ‘sustainable’ aviation fuel in conjunction with Solena Fuels. About 575,000 tonnes of waste normally destined for landfill or incineration will be converted into 120,000 tonnes of ‘clean’-burning liquid fuels.

BA has made a long-term commitment to purchase all 50,000 tonnes a year of the jet fuel produced as part of the GreenSky London project. Around 1,000 people will be hired to build the facility, at the Thames Enterprise Park on part of the former Coryton oil refinery site in Corringham. Due to be completed in 2017, it will create up to 150 permanent jobs.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent company International Airlines Group, said: “We are always striving to reduce our environmental impact, and this first-of-its-kind project marks a significant step for the aviation industry.

“The construction of the GreenSky London fuel facility at Thames Enterprise Park will lay the foundations for British Airways to reduce its carbon emissions significantly. The ‘sustainable’ jet fuel produced each year will be enough to power our flights from London City Airport twice over, providing carbon savings equivalent to taking 150,000 cars off the road.”

Solena Fuels president and chief executive Robert Do said: “We are excited to help British Airways achieve its sustainability goals by providing an innovative solution to produce drop-in jet fuel. We anticipate starting construction of the site in about 12 months after all the requisite permits and agreements have been obtained.
We are looking forward to building GreenSky London and partnering with British Airways on additional facilities in the UK.”