Wizz Air Invests £5 Million in Firefly Green Fuels

December 15, 2023

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by Beth Anton (Renewable Energy Magazine) Wizz Air, has announced a £5 million investment in biofuel company, Firefly. This is Wizz Air’s first equity investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) research and development. The partnership with Firefly will allow the airline to supply SAF to its UK operations from 2028, up to 525,000 tons over 15 years. The agreement has the potential to save 1.5 million tons of CO2-eq.

Firefly specializes in a process, which converts sewage sludge, a low-value waste product available in large quantities, into SAF. More than 57 million tons of sewage sludge are produced in the UK each year, with the potential to produce 250,000 tons of SAF.

Firefly’s SAF, which will be independently certified against the leading sustainability standard RSB, is projected to deliver a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil jet fuel on a life cycle basis. Firefly aims to have its first commercial plant operating within the next 5 years.

The agreement with Firefly and investment in new SAF technology represents the latest milestone in Wizz Air’s broader sustainability strategy, including its fleet renewal plan and low-cost operations with the latest technology aircraft and high seat density and load factors.

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Michael Berlouis, Head of Strategic Projects at Wizz Air, said, “In addition to fleet renewal and operational efficiency, SAF is crucial for reducing carbon emissions from aviation. However, feedstock availability remains the key challenge for the industry. Our investment in Firefly and its sewage sludge SAF technology is a major step forward for Wizz Air in securing its long-term ability to provide low-cost fares to its customers in an ever more environmentally sustainable way. From 2028, we are aiming to procure 525,000 tons of SAF from Firefly over a period of 15 years. This has the potential to reduce our emissions by 100,000 tons CO2-eq per year, which is equal to the emissions of over 12,000 return Wizz Air flights between London and Budapest." READ MORE

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Excerpt from BBC: Biofuel company Firefly plans to develop the plant in Harwich, Essex, and hopes to deliver fuel by 2028.

It has reached an agreement with Wizz Air to provide up to 525,000 tonnes of SAF over 15 years.

Firefly chief executive James Hygate said biosolids were "kind of disgusting stuff" but "an amazing resource".

"We're turning sewage into jet fuel. I can't really think of many things that are cooler than that," Mr Hygate added.

SAF's production involves using about 70% less carbon than conventional jet fuel, but is several times more expensive to produce.

Utility company Anglian Water has committed to providing the biosolids - a product of its waste water treatment process - to Firefly as part of an initial pilot phase.

Paul Hilditch, Firefly's chief operating officer, said there was enough biosolids in the UK to satisfy "half of the mandated SAF demand in 2030".

"And not just the UK of course. Anywhere in the world where there are people, there's poo," he added.

Firefly said it was in the process of obtaining regulatory approval for its system to be used for fuel aircraft.

Wizz Air also announced it hoped to power 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030. READ MORE

Excerpt from Wizz Air: Wizz Air aims to power 10% of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel by 2030

· New goal will support the airline’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions per passenger/km by 25% by 2030

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most environmentally sustainable airline globally*, is delighted to announce its new aspiration to power 10% of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030.

This new target marks a significant step in Wizz Air’s sustainability strategy, and builds on its ongoing investments in SAF development. To achieve the new goal, the airline is also calling for wider industry action to boost SAF production, urging policymakers to address current barriers to SAF deployment at scale.

The milestone was announced during a press conference this morning (April 11, 2024) alongside Firefly, an innovative UK-based biofuel company. Wizz Air has supported Firefly since 2023, and their partnership will allow the airline to supply up to 525,000 tonnes of SAF** over 15 years to its UK operations from 2028.

The new aspiration further strengthens Wizz Air’s position as an industry leader in sustainability and will drive its commitment to reducing its carbon emissions per passenger/km by 25% by 2030. The airline will continue to pursue wider sustainability initiatives, including its ambitious fleet renewal plan and efficient, low-fare operations. The airline uses the latest technology aircraft, and prioritises high seat density and load factors to ensure its current operations are as sustainable as possible.

Wizz Air leads the aviation industry with the lowest carbon emission per passenger/km among its competitors and remains committed to significantly reducing its CO2 intensity by 2030. In 2023, Wizz Air achieved its record low annual average CO2 intensity result, which amounted to 51.5 grams per passenger/km, a 6.8% reduction year-on-year.

Yvonne Moynihan, Corporate and ESG Officer at Wizz Air, said: “Wizz Air celebrates two decades of transformation this year, transitioning from a small airline into a global leader of sustainable aviation and affordable travel. Alongside fleet renewal and operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from aviation. Our investment in Firefly, which has the potential to reduce our lifecycle emissions by 100,000 tonnes CO2-eq per year, underscores our commitment to mainstream the use of SAF in our operations by 2030. However, achieving our aspiration requires a significant ramp-up of SAF production and deployment. Therefore, we call on policymakers to address barriers to SAF deployment at scale by incentivising production, providing price support, and embracing additional sustainable feedstocks for biofuel production.”

* According to the CAPA – Centre for Aviation Awards for Excellence 2022-2023

** SAF must be blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory requirements for use within the aircraft READ MORE

Excerpt from Boeing: Collaboration will support development of Firefly’s UK-based refinery and enable the company’s expansion into global markets; - This new pathway will help decarbonize aviation by transforming sewage into SAF

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Clear Sky, an investment company dedicated to aviation sustainability, are joining forces to accelerate sustainability solutions for aviation. As an initial project, the companies will help in testing and advancing Firefly Green Fuels’ cutting-edge technology to increase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the UK.

Firefly transforms sewage waste feedstock into SAF through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). This process uses heat and high pressure to convert waste into biocrude oil and biochar, a powdery substance that can be used as a fertilizer. SAF produced from this abundant, yet untapped feedstock reduces lifecycle CO₂ emissions by more than 90% compared to traditional petroleum jet fuel, according to independent analysis.

The Clear Sky-led consortium of investors and strategic partners, including Boeing, will invest in Firefly’s new technology, subject to final diligence. Boeing will provide training, direction and facilitation on testing that will accelerate the qualification of this new route to SAF.

“SAF offers the greatest opportunity to decarbonize aviation, and the industry’s collective challenge of bringing it to scale globally requires new sustainable pathways,” said Brian Moran, Boeing’s chief sustainability officer. “Clear Sky combines many years of investment expertise with knowledge on aviation’s decarbonization challenges. Firefly’s technology holds transformative potential as the SAF feedstock, sewage waste, is accessible in all regions of the globe.

Currently SAF represents 0.1% of global jet fuel use. In the UK the pending mandate to achieve 10% SAF in the jet fuel mix by 2030 will require 1.2 million tonnes of SAF by 2030, increasing to 7 million tonnes by 2050, according to ICF’s UK Net Zero Carbon Roadmap. Boeing and Clear Sky’s investment demonstrates progress on the roadmap given the available UK sewage waste can meet a significant proportion of the UK’s SAF requirement.

“In a world where demand for SAF outstrips available supply, Firefly is paving the way to cost-competitive and globally available fuel,” said James Hygate, CEO of Firefly. “With the support of Clear Sky and Boeing, we are propelling toward our goal of commercial production in the UK by 2029, and rapid replication across the globe.”

In addition to supporting Firefly, Boeing and Clear Sky are embarking on an international investment partnership focused on sustainability solutions that span aviation and adjacent industries such as chemicals and materials. Areas of focus include SAF, alternative propulsion, carbon removal and advanced materials and recycling.

“Boeing is undoubtedly a leader in advancing aviation’s decarbonization journey,” said Krishnan Narayanan, Founding Partner at Clear Sky. “We are delighted to be collaborating with Boeing to scale Firefly with more projects to be announced in the future.”

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As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

Clear Sky is a global investment company with the dual objectives of accelerating aviation's journey towards net-zero emissions while generating attractive returns for its investment partners. These include corporates from aviation, chemicals and other heavy industry and financial institutions. Incubated by the financiers at RAIN and launched earlier in 2024, it is led by a unique mix of senior professionals from the worlds of aviation, sustainability, energy and investing. Its investment strategies focus on sustainable aviation fuel, carbon removals, alternative propulsion, ground operations greening, and materials recycling. https://www.clearsky.eco/

Firefly’s technology originated in the laboratories of Green Fuels, a pioneer in renewable fuels founded in 2003 and awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment to the former HRH the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. Firefly demonstrates an integrated technology route to SAF using sewage sludge as feedstock, addressing a market opportunity and unmet need. This route, once qualified to international standards, will greatly contribute to the supply of SAF globally. The company is on a mission to fight climate change by transforming a problematic waste into truly sustainable fuel. https://flyfirefly.uk/ READ MORE