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BA signs deal to convert household waste into jet fuel
British Airways has entered a partnership to design a series of waste plants that will convert household waste into renewable jet fuel to power its fleet.
The venture, in partnership with Velocys, a renewable fuels company, is part of the airline’s plans to develop long-term, sustainable fuel options.
The first plant will take hundreds of thousands of tonnes of household waste each year, including nappies, plastic food containers and chocolate bar wrappers, and convert it into clean-burning, sustainable fuels.
The 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.
This will contribute to the airline’s commitment to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2050.
As well as helping the airline industry reduce its carbon emissions this initiative will also significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
The UK sends more than 15 million tonnes of waste per year to landfill sites which not only damages the environment but also releases further greenhouse gases affecting climate change.
It would be the first plant of this scale. The airline plans to supply its aircraft fleet with increasing amounts of sustainable jet fuel in the next decade.
The jet fuel produced at the plant will deliver more than 60% greenhouse gas reduction, compared with conventional fossil fuel, delivering 60,000 tonnes of CO2 savings every year.
This will contribute to both global carbon emissions reductions and local air quality improvements around major airports.
During the past week the Department for Transport has published changes to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO), and for the first time, sustainable jet fuel will be included in its incentive scheme, designed to promote sustainable aviation.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA parent company IAG, said: "Sustainable fuels will play an increasingly critical role in global aviation, and we are preparing for that future.
"Turning household waste into jet fuel is an amazing innovation that produces clean fuel while reducing landfill."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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