British Airways partners with Solena to propel GreenSky London project

British Airways has partnered with American firm Solena Fuels Corporation to develop sustainable jet fuel through the GreenSky London initiative.

With financing from British Airways, the facility will convert 500,000 tons of waste to 50,000 tonnes of sustainable low carbon jet fuel, 50,000 tonnes of biodiesel, bionaphtha and renewable power.

Scheduled to begin operations by 2015, the facility is estimated to generate 50,000 tons of jet fuel annually for the next 10 years and British Airways would purchase buifuel from the plant at a cost competitive price of $500m.

Solena’s Integrated Biomass Gasification to Liquids solution and high temperature gasification process will convert waste matter into synthesis gas.

Oxford Catalysts Group has been employed to supply reactors and catalyst, while Fluor will offer engineering services for the project.

British Airways chief executive Keith Williams said, "With world-class technology partners now in place, we are well on our way to making sustainable aviation fuel a reality for British Airways by 2015."

Solena president and CEO Robert Do stated, "The British Airways off-take agreement represents the largest advanced biofuel commitment ever made by an airline and clearly demonstrates the airline’s leadership and vision in achieving its carbon emission reduction targets."