Agreement between Alitalia and Solena Group to start a study on the conversion of municipal solid waste into aircraft biofuel

The CEO of Alitalia Rocco Sabelli, the CEO of Solena Group Robert Do and the CEO of Solena Italia Stefano Bugliosi, signed a letter which marks the intent of Alitalia and Solena Group to initiate a study on the feasibility of the construction of a plant capable of converting municipal solid waste (promiscuous biomasses) in a significant portion of the jet fuel needed by the Alitalia aircraft fleet, thus ensuring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and provide a stable supply of fuel. Present at the signing of the agreement was the Hon. Willer Bordon, president of Enalg SpA, a partner company of Solena Group and controller of Solena Italy SpA.

The study is aimed at assessing the feasibility of implementing a system for the conversion of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of municipal solid waste (mixed biomasses) into aircraft biofuel, in order to meet part of Alitalia’s fuel needs, reducing the consumption of conventional jet fuel and as a consequence of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere (up to 96%).

The use of technology of the Solena Group will produce alternative aviation fuel through a process of gasification at high temperature of the waste, which will be transformed into the so-called “syngas”. This gas is then converted into liquid by means of an industrial chemical process called Fischer-Tropsch.

Alitalia and Solena Group believe that this innovative conversion process can contribute to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) generated by the aircraft fleet.

Solena Group also plans to involve national and local authorities in the construction project. The technology proposed by Solena Group also offers a solution to the problem of the dispersion of solid waste in landfills, avoiding gas emissions harmful to the health and the environment.

The agreement between Alitalia and Solena Group is part of the innovative program called Green Sky which has already seen Solena Group cooperate with British Airways for the conversion of significant percentages of municipal solid waste of the London metropolitan area into jet fuel for aircraft operating at Heathrow.