Flights to Europe will soon be fuelled up with human poo from Essex after a world-first factory was announced in a bid to move towards sustainable aviation fuel.
A large-scale factory will be constructed in Essex to convert human waste into sustainable aviation fuel (Saf), reports the Independent.
Firefly, a biofuel company, plans to build the facility in Harwich and aims to start supplying eco-friendly fuel around 2028.
The company has struck a deal with Wizz Air to provide up to 525,000 tonnes of Saf over 15 years.
Anglian Water, a utility company, has pledged to supply biosolids, a byproduct of their wastewater treatment process, to Firefly for an initial pilot Saf facility.
Saf is derived from sustainable sources, resulting in a production process that emits about 70 percent less carbon compared to traditional jet fuel.
It can be blended with kerosene up to a maximum of 50 percent without requiring any modifications to aircraft engines.
However, Saf is currently much costlier to produce than regular jet fuel.
Firefly chief executive James Hygate said biosolids are “kind of disgusting stuff” but “an amazing resource”.
He went on: “We’re turning sewage into jet fuel. I can’t really think of many things that are cooler than that.”
Paul Hilditch, the company’s chief operating officer, said: “There’s enough biosolids in the UK for more than 200,000 tonnes of Saf.
“That’s enough to satisfy about half of the mandated Saf demand in 2030.
“We are not the only answer – we need the other routes to Saf – but this new route to Saf has the potential to move the needle, it has the potential to be a significant contribution to UK Saf supply.
“And not just the UK of course. Anywhere in the world where there are people, there’s poo.”
Firefly stated that they are currently seeking regulatory approval to utilise their system for aircraft fueling.
Additionally, Wizz Air revealed a new goal to fuel 10 percent of its flights with SAF by 2030.
