British Airways (BA) and US-based bioenergy firm Solena are well on their way to making sustainable aviation fuel a reality for the airline by 2015, said its chief executive.

“We are delighted that the Greensky London project is getting ever closer to fruition,” added Keith Williams, confirming that with world-class technology partners, the project is gaining momentum in its goal of producing sustainable jet fuel.

Greensky London, a flagship project launched by British Airways and Solena, a next generation zero emission bioenergy company, will see the construction of a state of the art facility that will annually convert approximately 500,000 tons of waste normally destined for landfill into 50,000 tons of sustainable low carbon jet fuel, 50,000 tons of biodiesel, bionaphtha and renewable power.

Solena’s technology consortium continues to grow and includes Solena Fuels Corporation will provide the high temperature gasification process that converts waste matter into synthesis gas and the overall Integrated Biomass Gasification to Liquids (IBGTL) solution, Oxford Catalysts Group/Velocys will supply the Fisher-Tropsch (FT) reactors and catalyst which will convert the cleaned synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons.

Fluor has started the pre-front end engineering and design (Pre-FEED) for the project.  Fluor is a world leader in project execution and bio-fuel projects, and is providing engineering services to support Solena.

British Airways has committed to purchasing, at market competitive prices, the jet fuel produced by the plant for the next ten years which equates to $500 million at today’s prices.

Barclays has also been appointed as advisor to explore the optimal funding through Export Credit Agencies. A Competitive Letter of Interest has been obtained from one of the Agencies including associated term funding.

Greensky London has signed an exclusive option on a site for the facility and consent work for the site has begun. More than 150 jobs will be created to operate the facility, as well as 1000 construction positions.

Robert Do, president and CEO of Solena, said: “Our Greensky London project will provide clean, sustainable fuels at market competitive prices that will help address British Airways’ sustainability goals.”

“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. We are proud to have created a consortium of world class companies with expertise in the synthetic fuels sector to support our project,” he added.

Roy Lipski, CEO of Oxford Catalysts Group, said: “Oxford Catalysts is pleased to be playing a key role in the enabling of Greensky London. This project looks set to become a landmark in the development of the sustainable fuels market, both in the UK and worldwide.” – TradeArabia News Service