The British company Firefly Green Fuels has developed an innovative aviation fuel made entirely from human waste.
The new jet fuel, called Firefly, has been approved by independent regulators who said its quality is virtually indistinguishable from traditional A1 jet fuel.
The company worked with experts from Cranfield University to prove that their fuel has a 90% lower carbon footprint than aviation. It is noted that Firefly Green Fuels received a £2 million grant from the Department for Transport in 2021 to continue development.
Firefly Green Fuels is produced by processing treated wastewater through a hydrothermal liquefaction process. This process converts liquid waste into crude oil or sludge, and the solid by-products can be used as fertilizers.
The company has already entered into a partnership with low-cost airline Wizz Air, which plans to use Firefly fuel starting in 2028. Firefly Green Fuels claims to have a carbon dioxide emissions intensity of only 7.97 grams per megajoule, which is an order of magnitude lower than traditional jet fuel.
Environmentally friendly aviation fuel produced from waste is an innovation that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation industry while remaining competitive in quality. Firefly Green Fuels plans to launch its first commercial plant in 5 years.
