British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz has told how the development of a green jet fuel refinery on the South Humber Bank remains a priority as it plots the Covid-19 recovery.
The leading figure in UK aviation has underlined the commitment to a greener future for the industry, backing calls to accelerate aviation investment.
A package was revealed this week for technical funding towards engines and aircraft, now the push is for fuels to complete the decarbonisation plan.
As reported, a cross-party group of MPs want to see the £200 million pot topped up - matched by industry.
Mr Cruz said: “Last year British Airways led the way in UK aviation, committing to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Despite the unprecedented and difficult times we now face, we know it is vital that we continue to forge ahead with our plans to address climate change.
“We are investing in a range of initiatives to meet our commitment, including flying new, more fuel-efficient aircraft and the development of sustainable aviation fuels, which will play a crucial role in the future of global aviation.
“Alongside our partners, Velocys and Shell, we are developing the UK’s first waste to jet fuel plant in Immingham, converting 500,000 tons of waste that would otherwise go to landfill into 50 million litres of sustainable jet fuel every year, which will help to power our aircraft for years to come. This remains a priority and we will continue to ensure that our future is sustainable.”
Planning consent was obtained in May for the £350 million refinery, which could be scaled up further.
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Sir Graham Brady MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sustainable Aviation, heads a 35-strong group, and sent a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, calling on him to “fuel a green economic recovery by supercharging investment in aviation decarbonisation.”
Elements were part met in an announcement on Monday, but the focus on fuel remains.
He said: “Decarbonising aviation is going to be a crucial step in meeting our net zero ambitions, but it also offers an opportunity to make Britain a world leader in new technologies. As we emerge from lockdown, support for the aviation industry can drive a sustainable recovery, so that as the Prime Minister says, we can ‘build back greener’. This means building a sustainable aviation fuels industry in the UK, a here-and-now technology that can create jobs and add billions to our economy.”
Velocys, which is also backed by Shell, is in the process of funding and final-stage engineering design for the Altalto site, which will sit off Hobson Way in Stallingborough.
Henrik Wareborn, chief executive, said: “The Prime Minister said he wanted the UK to build the world’s first zero-emission long-haul passenger plane. In fact, our planned waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel facility in North East Lincolnshire could be fuelling transatlantic flights in just five years’ time without the need to modify aircrafts or engines at all.
"Velocys has the technology, already demonstrated at commercial scale, and such fuel allows a seamless transition towards net zero lifecycle emissions. We encourage the Government to support getting the first few production facilities off the ground and sustainable aviation fuel in the air in significant commercial volumes by the second half of this decade.”
A Jet Zero Council has already been proposed in Westminster, with Mr Johnson’s long-haul goal set at the announcement.