Boeing and Clear Sky, a company dedicated to aviation sustainability, have announced a partnership to accelerate sustainable aviation solutions. Their first joint project will focus on advancing Firefly Green Fuels’ innovative technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from sewage waste in the UK.

Firefly Green Fuels utilizes hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to convert sewage waste into SAF, which can reduce lifecycle CO₂ emissions by over 90% compared to traditional jet fuel. This process also produces biocrude oil and biochar, a fertilizer byproduct.

The Clear Sky-led consortium, including Boeing, plans to invest in Firefly’s technology, pending final due diligence. Boeing will contribute training, guidance, and testing facilitation to expedite the qualification of this SAF production method.

Brian Moran, Boeing’s Chief Sustainability Officer, highlighted SAF’s potential to decarbonize aviation, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to scaling SAF globally. With SAF currently representing only 0.1% of global jet fuel use, the UK’s upcoming mandate for 10% SAF by 2030 underscores the importance of such advancements.

James Hygate, CEO of Firefly, expressed enthusiasm about reaching commercial production in the UK by 2029, with plans for global expansion.

“In a world where demand for SAF outstrips available supply, Firefly is paving the way to cost-competitive and globally available fuel,” said James Hygate, CEO of Firefly. “With the support of Clear Sky and Boeing, we are propelling toward our goal of commercial production in the UK by 2029, and rapid replication across the globe.”

The collaboration extends beyond SAF, with Boeing and Clear Sky also pursuing investments in sustainability solutions across aviation and related industries, including alternative propulsion, carbon removal, and advanced materials.

Krishnan Narayanan, Founding Partner at Clear Sky, praised Boeing’s leadership in aviation decarbonization and expressed excitement about future projects.

“Boeing is undoubtedly a leader in advancing aviation’s decarbonization journey,” said Krishnan Narayanan, Founding Partner at Clear Sky. “We are delighted to be collaborating with Boeing to scale Firefly with more projects to be announced in the future.”