Wizz Air invest GBP 5 million in UK SAF developer

According to a statement, the partnership with Firefly Green Fuels will allow the airline to supply SAF to its UK operations from 2028, up to 525,000 tonnes over 15 years.

The agreement has the potential to save 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂eq).

Utilizing a process developed by sister firm Green Fuels Research Ltd, Firefly Green Fuels will convert sewage sludge, a low-value waste product available in large quantities, into SAF.

More than 57 million tonnes of sewage sludge are produced in the UK each year, with the potential to produce 250,000 tonnes of SAF.

Firefly’s SAF, which will be independently certified against the leading sustainability standard, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), is projected to deliver a 90 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to fossil jet fuel on a life-cycle basis.

Firefly Green Fuels aims to have its first commercial plant operating within the next 5 years.

We are thrilled to be establishing a partnership with Wizz Air. The investment will accelerate the commercialisation of our game-changing Firefly process, with the binding offtake agreement saving a staggering 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions. Firefly will facilitate a step change towards the future of air travel. The feedstock, sewage sludge, is available in vast quantities globally and with Firefly, we can put it to a truly beneficial use, reducing the use of fossil fuels in the hardest to decarbonise areas, said James Hygate, CEO of Firefly Green Fuels.

Part of a broader sustainability strategy

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

This will further strengthen Wizz Air’s position as an industry leader in sustainability and drive its commitment to reducing its carbon emissions per passenger/km by 25 percent by 2030.

In 2022, Wizz Air achieved its lowest-ever annual carbon intensity, which amounted to 55.2 grams per passenger/km, representing a 15 percent reduction year-on-year.

To achieve this, the airline has invested heavily in its fleet by adding new aircraft and replacing older aircraft with the Airbus A321neo aircraft.

The Airbus A321neo aircraft incorporates the latest technology, offering significant environmental benefits and can currently fly with up to 50 percent SAF blend.

The share of the new “neo” technology Airbus A320 family aircraft has already surpassed 50 percent of Wizz Air’s fleet.

In addition to its ambitious fleet renewal programme, Wizz Air is constantly working on fuel efficiency initiatives and improving its data analytics.

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 tonnes of SAF from Firefly over a period of 15 years. This has the potential to reduce our emissions by 100,000 tonnes CO₂eq per year, which is equal to the emissions of over 12,000 return Wizz Air flights between London and Budapest, said Michael Berlouis, Head of Strategic Projects at Wizz Air.