Velocys recently met with the Altalto project’s local MPs to discuss progress in the development of the sustainable aviation fuel facility in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire. The planned facility will sit in the constituency of Martin Vickers, Member of Parliament for Cleethorpes; and neighbour the constituency of Great Grimsby, represented by Lia Nici.
Following the meeting, Martin Vickers MP and Lia Nici MP said:
“We had a really encouraging e-meeting with representatives from Velocys last week to discuss their plans for developing Europe’s first waste-to-jet fuel facility in Immingham. The Humber Estuary is already home to several world leading businesses using industrial processes to develop innovative green technologies. We look forward to working with Velocys and their project partners Shell and British Airways to ensure they become the latest addition to the Humber’s green industrial hub.”
The Financial Times highlighted Velocys’ UK project to make sustainable aviation fuel from household waste in an article ‘Greener biofuels battle for take-off to cut aviation emissions’ (30-Mar-2020).
The article can be read on the FT website:
Responding to the Government’s publication of the policy paper ‘Decarbonising transport: setting the challenge’ in which the Government commits to publishing a consultation on net zero aviation later this year, Henrik Wareborn, CEO at Velocys, commented:
“We warmly welcome the Government’s commitment to publish a net zero aviation consultation as part of its ambitious plans to tackle emissions in the transport sector announced yesterday. Aviation is the most challenging transport sector to decarbonise because the energy density and performance of battery technologies cannot come close to matching liquid hydrocarbon fuel, particularly over longer distances. Sustainable aviation fuel will therefore play an essential role if we are to continue flying and cut emissions. Our proposed waste-to-fuels facility on the Humber Estuary will be the first of its kind in Europe and, with Government support, could be producing cleaner burning jet fuel in just four years’ time.”
Velocys plc (VLS.L), the sustainable fuels technology company, is today providing an update on the measures it is taking to manage the risk presented by the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
The health and safety of Velocys’ employees, and those of our customers, partners and suppliers, is the Board’s top priority. The Company is regularly reviewing working practices in the light of the latest information and safeguarding recommendations as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
The Company has the necessary technology platforms to support efficient working among teams over a wide geographical spread, which are well adapted to the present circumstances. All our employees are now able to efficiently work from home and we have a dedicated COVID-19 response team in place.
The Board remains attentive towards its business operations during these unprecedented times.
For further information, please contact:
Velocys
Henrik Wareborn, CEO
Andrew Morris, CFO
Lak Siriwardene, Head of Communications & Sustainability
+44 1865 800821
Numis Securities (Nomad and joint broker)
Stuart Skinner
Emily Morris
Alamgir Ahmed
+44 20 7260 1000
Canaccord Genuity (Joint broker)
Henry Fitzgerald-O’Connor
James Asensio
+44 20 7523 8000
Radnor Capital (Investor relations)
Joshua Cryer
Iain Daly
+44 20 3897 1830
Field Consulting (PR)
Robert Jeffery
+44 20 7096 7730
Notes to Editors
Velocys is an international UK-based sustainable fuels technology company. Velocys designed, developed and now licences proprietary Fischer-Tropsch technology for the generation of clean, low carbon, synthetic drop-in aviation and transport fuel from municipal solid waste and waste woody biomass.
Velocys is currently developing projects in Natchez, Mississippi, USA (incorporating Carbon Capture Use and Storage) and Immingham, UK to produce fuels that significantly reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and key exhaust pollutants for aviation and road transport. Originally a spin-out from Oxford University, in 2008 the company acquired a US company based on complementary technology developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Velocys is headquartered in Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Velocys attended the Energy from Waste 2020 conference in London to discuss lessons learnt from ACT (Advanced Conversion Technology) development thus far. Velocys’ Martin Hopkins, who also chaired the session, discussed with representatives from business, industry and local government the challenges of, and what’s to be gained from, repurposing waste to energy.
During the discussions, Martin outlined Velocys’ integrated end to end process, which will take household and commercial waste otherwise destined for landfill and turn it into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The process starts with the gasification of waste into syngas, composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is then used to synthesise liquid hydrocarbons using Velocys’ proprietary, demonstrated Fischer Tropsch reactor and catalyst. These hydrocarbons are then upgraded into SPK, which is approved worldwide for commercial aviation; and naphtha, a constituent of petrol.
By combining Velocys’ technology with gasification, purification and hydrocracking technologies (all of which have also been demonstrated at commercial scale), we can provide an integrated end-to-end process, from waste to wing. Taking what society does not want, Velocys technologies are able to create a product we cannot do without.
Velocys Vice President of Waste to Fuels, Dr Neville Hargreaves, has discussed the significant growth prospects for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as part of a newly published interview with Argus Media.
Dr Hargreaves outlined the substantial case for increased use of SAF in the aviation industry, referencing industry coalition Sustainable Aviation’s research which estimates that 32% of the UK demand for kerosene could be met by domestically produced SAF by 2050.
With a growing global demand for SAF, he went on to discuss how projects such as Velocys present an investment opportunity which is “an excellent fit with many funds’ sustainability mandates,” to make fuel for a sector that is very hard to decarbonise, from a waste feedstock that would otherwise go to landfill or incineration.
You can read the interview in full here.
Velocys sustainable fuels technology and the Altalto project were discussed during a royal visit at British Airways’ largest engineering base in Cardiff.
HRH The Prince of Wales toured the site and spoke with British Airways on the changes, large and small, which the airline is making as it works towards more sustainable flying, including discussing British Airways’ collaboration with Velocys on the Altalto project in Immingham.
The Altalto project reflects the engagement and commitment to address the need for sustainable aviation fuel. For the airline industry to reach their net zero targets alongside the UK’s goal, a robust process solution is needed. Velocys has the technology to help achieve this result.
Further information on HRH The Prince of Wales’ visit to the British Airways engineering base.
Sustainable Aviation has published a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) roadmap
Earlier this month industry coalition Sustainable Aviation published a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Roadmap that forecasts the role these new fuels could play in the future of the aviation industry.
The in depth report shows how SAF could reduce aviation emissions by almost a third, and similarly make up nearly a third of aviation fuel demand by 2050, in turn playing a key role in supporting UK jobs and exports.
Key findings from the report include:
To read the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Roadmap in full, please click here. You can also read Velocys’ CEO Henrik Wareborn’s comments on the Roadmap here.
Today a new aviation industry roadmap forecasts that sustainable aviation fuels could meet 32% of aviation fuel demand by 2050. This formed part of a wider announcement by the industry coalition Sustainable Aviation who committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at an event in central London.
Commenting on the report, Velocys CEO Henrik Wareborn, said:
“This report shows how commercialising sustainable aviation fuel production will be a game-changing industrial, economic and environmental opportunity for the UK.
“Of all modes of transport, aviation is the most challenging to decarbonise because the energy density and performance of battery and fuel cell technologies cannot come close to matching liquid hydrocarbon fuel, particularly over longer distances. Therefore, if we are to reach net zero emissions and continue flying, innovative fuel-based solutions like ours will be essential.
“Sustainable aviation fuel produced at the Immingham facility will be used in existing aircraft engines without any modifications and deliver a net CO2 saving of around 70%. With CCUS technology it will be able to go one step further – producing negative emission fuels.
“To do this we need the UK Government to establish a CCUS investment framework and ensure projects like ours can link into a CO2 transport and storage infrastructure network in the region.”
Download the full Sustainable Aviation Fuels Roadmap report
Velocys plc (VLS.L), the sustainable fuels technology company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Worley (ASX: WOR) to manage the delivery of its fully integrated technology package.
Worley, a world-class engineering contractor, is the partner in the development of pre-feasibility, feasibility and FEED packages for all projects in the Velocys portfolio. This allows Velocys to leverage synergies across multiple projects and geographies. Worley’s global reach allows an effective collaborative partnership to deliver projects worldwide.
The fully integrated technology package converts waste feedstocks into sustainable aviation and road transport fuels. Velocys has selected all the technology suppliers for its Bayou Fuels woody-biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi, USA. The same technology package will be used for the Altalto Immingham waste-to-fuels project in the UK.
The industry leading licensors were selected, after extensive due diligence and engineering assessment, to create an integrated technology solution consisting of five process steps (including Velocys’ own technology), each of which has been demonstrated at commercial scale on similar feedstocks:
The careful selection and combination of the above technologies provides a de-risked solution enabling the processing of different solid feedstocks (including both woody biomass and municipal solid waste), and sufficient flexibility to allow production of multiple products including Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) and diesel. A capture-ready carbon dioxide stream is also produced, enabling negative-emissions fuels wherever CO2 usage or storage options are available, as is the case for the Bayou Fuels project.
| Step | Process | Licensor |
| 1 | Gasification | TRI (ThermoChem Recovery International) |
| 2 | Syngas partial oxidation and cooling | Arvos Schmidtsche-Schack (SCS), with Linde’s Hot Oxygen Burner Technology |
| 3 | Syngas clean-up & conditioning | Air Liquide Engineering & Construction |
| 4 | Fisher Tropsch (FT) hydrocarbon synthesis | Velocys |
| 5 | Product upgrading | Haldor Topsoe |
Velocys has also successfully concluded an integrated piloting programme culminating in the production of SPK, diesel and naphtha from representative Fischer Tropsch liquids.
Aviation and heavy goods transport remain the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Passenger vehicles can be electrified but aeroplanes and trucks require much higher energy density, therefore a liquid fuel remains the more viable choice. The technology package provides a robust solution to help these industries to unlock a decarbonised future, through access to abundant, sustainable, but difficult-to-process feedstocks such as municipal solid waste and woody biomass residues. Critically, the fuels produced meet all required regulatory standards, and can be used without any modification to engines.
Paul Seaton, Worley President, E&C Services, Europe & Central Asia said:
“We are pleased to have been selected as the global engineering partner for these sustainable fuels projects. As a major player in the energy, chemicals and resources sectors, energy transition projects are already a fast-growing part of our business. Worley is determined to work with Velocys to find solutions for a lower carbon world.”
Henrik Wareborn, Velocys CEO, said:
“We are delighted to have appointed Worley as our engineering contractor and to partner with our selected technology providers, who bring complementary skills and command excellent reputations. Our unique combination of technologies allows Velocys to offer a robust process solution that will be vital to the decarbonisation of challenging sectors and the achievement of net zero targets.”
Licensor comments include:
Daniel A. Burciaga, TRI CEO, said:
“TRI is extremely pleased to be part of the world-class technical team that Velocys has assembled for these important and exciting projects. Having already worked closely with Velocys to integrate our system with their FT technology unit and demonstrated that over a long duration run at our process demonstration facility, we are very confident about the robust commercial applications of this powerful configuration.”
Todd Skare, Linde Chief Technology Officer said:
“Linde is pleased to have been selected by Velocys to supply its proprietary Hot Oxygen Burner (HOB) Technology. Our commercially proven partial oxidation technology will be used to increase the quality and yield of syngas generation. Our HOB technology is widely recognised in the industry for its ability to handle a wide range of variation in both raw syngas and fuel compositions thus helping our customers ensure a reliable waste to fuels process.”
Michael Schoetz, Head of Sales & Tendering at Arvos Schmidtsche Schack Düsseldorf said:
“We are excited to get the opportunity to apply our 50 years of experience from Gasification in the emerging renewable field. SCS will apply our knowledge to reduce risk and increase availability in the first process block, the complete Gasification Island.”
Dominique Rouge, Vice President, Sales & Technology at Air Liquide Engineering & Construction said:
“Air Liquide Engineering & Construction is pleased to bring its extensive experience and world renowned and referenced Lurgi™ capture-ready syngas conditioning technology to the project, supporting the new generation of sustainable fuels and the transition to clean energies.”
Johan Mogensen, Vice President, Haldor Topsoe, said:
“We are very proud to be part of this project together with Velocys. Haldor Topsoe is determined to be a driving force in the global push towards renewable fuels. This project is a notable addition to our extensive portfolio in the area.”
For further information, please contact:
Velocys
Henrik Wareborn, CEO
Andrew Morris, CFO
Lak Siriwardene, Head of Communications & Sustainability
+44 1865 800821
Numis Securities (Nomad and joint broker)
Stuart Skinner
Tom Ballard
+44 20 7260 1000
Canaccord Genuity (Joint broker)
Henry Fitzgerald-O’Connor
James Asensio
+44 20 7523 8000
Radnor Capital (Investor relations)
Joshua Cryer
Iain Daly
+44 20 3897 1830
Field Consulting (PR)
Robert Jeffery
+44 20 7096 7730
Velocys is an international UK-based sustainable fuels technology company. Velocys designed, developed and now licences proprietary Fischer-Tropsch technology for the generation of clean, low carbon, synthetic drop-in aviation and transport fuel from municipal solid waste and waste woody biomass.
Velocys is currently developing projects in Natchez, Mississippi, USA (incorporating Carbon Capture Use and Storage) and Immingham, UK to produce fuels that significantly reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and key exhaust pollutants for aviation and road transport. Originally a spin-out from Oxford University, in 2008 the company acquired a US company based on complementary technology developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Velocys is headquartered in Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Worley globally delivers projects, provides expertise in engineering, procurement and construction and offers a wide range of consulting and advisory services. Headquartered in Sydney Australia, the company covers the full lifecycle, from creating new assets to sustaining and enhancing operating assets, in the hydrocarbons, mining, mineral, metals, chemicals, power and infrastructure sectors. www.worleyparsons.com
ThermoChem Recovery International (TRI) was founded in 1996 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. TRI has developed two stage steam reforming gasification technology which enables the conversion of a diverse range of feedstocks, including municipal solid waste and woody biomass feedstocks, into syngas. TRI’s gasifier has been successfully constructed, commissioned and operated at commercial scale in a plant in Trenton, Ontario, Canada. Velocys and TRI have carried out over 2,000 hours of integrated gasifier and FT testing at TRI’s process demonstration facility in Durham, North Carolina, USA. www.tri-inc.net
Linde is a leading industrial gases and engineering company with 2018 pro forma sales of USD 28 billion (EUR 24 billion). The company employs approximately 80,000 people globally and serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Linde delivers innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers and creates long-term value for all stakeholders. The company is making our world more productive by providing products, technologies and services that help customers improve their economic and environmental performance in a connected world. www.linde.com
ARVOS Group has been supplying specialist heat transfer equipment in power, petrochemical chemical and metallurgical industries for over 100 years. The Partial Oxidation unit will be supplied from the Schmidtsche Schack’s Düsseldorf division, integrating the TRI supply into the Gasification Island. SCS is headquartered in Kassel, Germany and has manufacturing locations in Germany, and Offices in USA, Japan and China and India. The partial oxidation system with burner and syngas cooling have tens of thousands of operating hours in similar applications worldwide. www.arvos-group.com
Air Liquide Engineering & Construction builds Air Liquide Group production units (mainly air gas separation and hydrogen production units) and provides external customers with efficient, sustainable, customized technology and process solutions. Air Liquide Engineering & Construction’s core expertise in industrial gases, energy conversion and gas purification, enables customers to optimize natural resources. As a technology partner, customers benefit from our research and development to contribute to energy transition. www.airliquide.com
Haldor Topsoe is a globally recognised catalyst and technology company headquartered in Lyngby, Denmark, suppling high-performance catalysts, proprietary technologies, process design, engineering, and services for use in the chemical and oil & gas industries. It has more than 200 licensed units in hydroprocessing technology. www.topsoe.com