Waste from your rubbish bin could fuel aeroplanes

PLANES could be powered by household rubbish under a government scheme.

Ministers are offering £22million for research into low-carbon, waste-based fuels for planes and lorries – which they say could be worth £600million to the economy by 2030.

They hope new technology will be able to harness the power of rubbish that currently heads to landfill.

Figures show aircraft and lorries powered by waste fuel could use up to 90 per cent less carbon than those with traditional fossil fuels.

There have been trials of sustainable jet fuel in Europe and North America. Waste from landfill is heated in a lowoxygen environment to produce a gas that can be condensed into a liquid fuel.

About 70 groups have expressed interest

in the funding. Transport minister Jesse Norman said: ‘We are committed to cutting carbon emissions and promoting new environmentally friendly fuels that will help us meet that goal.

‘We know lorries and aeroplanes will rely on more traditional fuels for years to come so we must promote environmentally friendly alternatives.’

The new fuels are chemically similar to conventional fuels, so aircraft could use them without needing modifications.

It is hoped the Government funding will help develop five low-carbon fuel plants by 2021. Switching planes and lorries to electric power would not yet be viable because they are too heavy.

Aviation consultant John Strickland said: ‘This move will be welcomed but widespread adoption would still be some way off in the future.’

‘Cutting carbon emissions’