Virgin Atlantic plans to use low carbon jet

Virgin Atlantic plans to start using a low-carbon jet fuel derived from waste gases released during industrial steel production on certain commercial flights by 2014, it said yesterday. The technology, developed with energy firm LanzaTech, will capture waste gases from industrial production, then ferment and chemically convert them using technology by the company Swedish BioFuels for use as jet fuel, Virgin said. The technology is currently being piloted in New Zealand and a larger demonstration plant will be commissioned in Shanghai, China, later this year. Virgin aims to complete a demo flight using the new fuel in 12 to 18 months' time. In two to three years, Virgin plans to use the new fuel on its routes from Shanghai and Delhi to London Heathrow.