Planes fuelled by waste could take off from British airports

DfT funds research into waste-based fuels for aircraft and lorries

The government is offering funding for projects in the UK to develop low carbon waste-based fuels for planes and lorries as part of plans to promote clean alternative fuels.

The Department for Transport (DfT) predicts planes and lorries powered by waste fuels could use up to 90% less carbon than traditional fossil fuels.

The £22m fund is being made available to projects that will produce low carbon waste-based fuels, to be used in planes and lorries where it is not viable today to switch to electric power, because of the large weight of the vehicles.

Trials of sustainable jet fuel, made from waste materials, have taken place in Europe and North America. The new fuels are chemically very similar to conventional fuels, so can be used in existing aircraft without the need for any engine modifications.

The DfT hopes a UK competition will encourage British experts to conduct research in this sector. The department says it has already had interest from more than 70 groups in bidding for the funding.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “We are committed to cutting carbon emissions and promoting new environmentally-friendly fuels that will help us meet that goal. We are making funding available to innovative businesses that will lead the way in developing alternative fuels that are efficient, sustainable and clean.

“We want every new car and van in the UK to be zero emission by 2040, but we know lorries and aeroplanes will rely on more traditional fuels for years to come so we must promote environmentally friendly alternatives.”

The Future fuels for flight and freight competition is part of the government’s ‘Modern industrial strategy’, which sets out to support evolving industries with the potential to boost the economy.

The department said the fund could help deliver up to five new low carbon fuel plants by 2021. The department predicts that low carbon transport fuels made from waste materials could be worth £600m a year to the British economy by 2030, and could also support up to 9,800 new jobs.