Wizz Air 'poo to fuel' factory to bring jobs to Essex town

Biofuel company Firefly said it will develop the plant in Harwich and expects to begin supplying the lower carbon fuel from around 2028.

It has reached an agreement with Wizz Air – a low-cost Hungarian airline - to provide up to 525,000 tonnes over 15 years.

Utility company Anglian Water has committed to providing biosolids – a product of its wastewater treatment process – to Firefly for an initial pilot sustainable aviation fuel facility.

Freeports - Tendring District Council deputy leader Ivan Henderson said the proposal was in line with Freeport East's green and economic principles (Image: Maria Fowler)

Councillor Ivan Henderson, deputy leader of Tendring District Council, said: “These sound like exciting plans which will bring investment and jobs in the green sector to the Harwich and Tendring area, and we look forward to working with the firm as the proposals are developed.

“This proposal is in line with the Freeport East principles of clean energy, jobs for new energy and skills opportunities; and we want to work closely with these new industries to maximise the opportunities for our residents and strengthen our local, regional and national economy.”

Support - MP for Harwich and North Essex Sir Bernard Jenkin offered to help 'in any way' with the plant (Image: PA)

While the incumbent and Conservative MP of Harwich and North Essex Sir Bernard Jenkin said: “If someone local can make a go of this, that’s fantastic.

“If Firefly think I can support them in any way, they must tell me.  The government will want this to succeed.”

Meanwhile, the Green party candidate for Harwich and North Essex, Professor Andrew Canessa who is a social anthropologist at the University of Essex, said: “This looks like a great green story and one that comes with economic development for our area.  

“Whizz Air is, however, a short haul flier. Green party policy is to reduce demand for air travel. We are keen to develop rail travel, especially for short haul and there are some exciting developments in the area of very rapid rail travel and solid-state batteries promise sufficient battery density to enable electric powered short haul flights."

Critical - Green candidate for Harwich and North Essex Professor Andrew Canessa was more critical about the greenness of the plant (Image: University of Essex)

Prof Canessa added: “The article does not outline what the end fuel actually is and what emissions are created when it is burned."

Benefits - Labour's candidate Alex Diner said it was important that plans work to maximise any benefits for local people (Image: Submitted)

Alex Diner, the Labour candidate for Harwich and North Essex, said: "It's great news for Harwich that industry recognises what our town has to offer.

“It's now vital Firefly work closely with local communities when developing its proposals to maximise the benefits for local people.”

Mr Diner added: “This will secure good local jobs and improve local living standards, all while tackling climate change”.

Sustainable - Natalie Sommers, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said it would help with the drive to make air travel more sustainable (Image: Submitted)

While Natalie Sommers, the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Harwich and North East Essex said: “This sounds like the ultimate in recycling.

“I welcome that it will bring much needed jobs into Harwich and put the area at the forefront of new technologies and the drive to make air travel more sustainable and better for the environment.”

Sustainable aviation fuel, known as Saf, is made from sustainable sources meaning its production involves using about 70 per cent less carbon than conventional jet fuel but is currently several times more expensive.

Under the Government’s Saf mandate, at least 10 per cent of the fuel used by airlines in the UK must be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030.

Paul Hilditch, Firefly’s chief operating officer, said: “There’s enough biosolids in the UK for more than 200,000 tonnes of Saf.

“That’s enough to satisfy about half of the mandated Saf demand in 2030.”

While Yvonne Moynihan, an officer at Wizz Air, said: “Our investment in Firefly, which has the potential to reduce our lifecycle emissions by 100,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year, underscores our commitment to mainstream the use of Saf in our operations by 2030.

“However, achieving our aspiration requires a significant ramp-up of Saf production and deployment.”