British Airways has announced its commitment to the long awaited GreenSky project. Developed in partnership with bio energy company Solena, GreenSky will be the world's first plant turning landfill waste into aviation fuel.
Due to be completed in 2017, the plant will be located at the Thames Enterprise Park, part of the site of the former Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock, Essex. Approximately 575,000 tonnes of post-recycled waste, normally destined for landfill or incineration, will instead be converted into 120,000 tonnes of clean burning liquid fuels using Solena’s innovative integrated technology. British Airways has made a long-term commitment to purchase all 50,000 tonnes per annum of the jet fuel.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent company IAG, said: “We are always striving to reduce our impact on climate change 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."