(credit: mediacentre.britishairways.com)
DIPLOMATIC TIME STAFF REPORT
BRITISH AIRWAYS is investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology provider and SAF producer LanzaJet as the company builds its first commercial scale plant in Georgia, USA. The British airline’s goal is to become carbon neutral by 2050. British Airways will purchase SAF from LanzaJet’s US plant to power a number of the airline’s flights from late 2022. The Deal also involves LanzaJet conducting early stage planning for a potential large scale commercial SAF biorefinery in the UK. BA is to power future flights with sustainable aviation fuel produced from sustainablysourced ethanol, as part of a new partnership with sustainable jet fuel company LanzaJet. The plant in Georgia is due to begin construction this year. It will convert sustainable ethanol (a chemical compound widely blended with petrol to reduce its carbon intensity) into sustainable aviation fuel using a patented chemical process. British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group, will be investing $400 million in sustainable aviation fuel in the next 20 years.
Virgin Atlantic Lanzatech Fuel. Photo credit / Doug Peters/PA Wire
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ CEO, said:
“Despite the crisis in global aviation, it is vital for our future that we continue to address climate change and we remain focused on playing our part to reduce the impact we have on the planet. For the last 100 years we have connected Britain with the world and the world with Britain, and to ensure our success for the next 100, we must do this sustainably.
Lanzajet fuel (mediacentre.britishairways)
Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet CEO, said:
“Our world is at a crossroads on climate change and our industry is at inflection point, prepared to accelerate the energy transition that is needed. We are delighted to welcome British Airways to the LanzaJet family. Low-cost, sustainable fuel options are critical for the future of the aviation sector and the LanzaJet process offers the most flexible feedstock solution at scale, recycling wastes and residues into SAF that allows us to keep fossil jet fuel in the ground. British Airways has long been a champion of waste to fuels pathways especially with the UK Government. With the right support for waste-based fuels, the UK would be an ideal location for commercial scale LanzaJet plants. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with BA and the UK Government in making this a reality, and to continuing our support of bringing the Prime Minister’s Jet Zero vision to life.”
LanzaJet was launched in June 2020 and is a spin-off from leading biotech company LanzaTech. British Airways will be joining LanzaTech, Mitsui and Suncor Energy as investors in LanzaJet.
