Firefly Partners with Boeing and Clear Sky to Convert Sewage to SAF in the US

Firefly has announced its role as the inaugural beneficiary of a new decarbonization-focused consortium spearheaded by Boeing and Clear Sky. This partnership will advance the development of Firefly's inaugural commercial-scale facility in Harwich and support its swift global expansion. The facility will utilize a novel fuel pathway to convert sewage into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), marking a significant step towards decarbonizing aviation. Once operational, this innovation aims to significantly reduce aviation's carbon footprint.

Boeing and Clear Sky, an investment firm focused on advancing aviation sustainability, are partnering to expedite the development of sustainable aviation solutions. Their inaugural initiative involves supporting Firefly Green Fuels in testing and enhancing its innovative technology to boost sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production within the UK.

Firefly employs hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to convert sewage waste feedstock into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This innovative process involves applying heat and high pressure to transform waste into biocrude oil and biochar, the latter of which can be utilized as a fertilizer. The SAF derived from this plentiful and underutilized feedstock offers a significant environmental benefit, reducing lifecycle CO2 emissions by over 90% compared to conventional petroleum jet fuel, as confirmed by independent analysis.

The consortium led by Clear Sky, which includes Boeing and other strategic partners, is set to invest in Firefly’s new technology, pending final due diligence. Boeing will play a key role by offering training, guidance, and facilitation to streamline the testing process, thereby expediting the qualification of this innovative pathway to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

James Hygate, CEO of Firefly, highlighted the company's pivotal role in addressing the global shortfall of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). He emphasized that Firefly is at the forefront of making SAF both cost-effective and widely accessible. With backing from Clear Sky and Boeing, Firefly is set to launch commercial SAF production in the UK by 2029. The company is also focused on quickly scaling this production model internationally, aiming to meet the burgeoning global demand for sustainable fuel solutions in aviation.

Krishnan Narayanan, Founding Partner at Clear Sky, praised Boeing's leadership in the aviation industry's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. He expressed enthusiasm about their collaboration with Boeing to support Firefly's growth, signaling that this partnership will lead to further initiatives and projects aimed at scaling sustainable aviation fuel production.

In addition to backing Firefly, Boeing and Clear Sky are launching a global investment partnership dedicated to sustainability solutions across aviation and related sectors like chemicals and materials. This partnership will focus on key areas such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), alternative propulsion systems, carbon removal technologies, and advancements in materials and recycling.