Altalto (Immingham) Limited, a subsidiary of UK-based company Velocys, has received funding from the Department for Transport under the UK’s Advanced Fuels Fund. This financial support will enable Altalto to launch the Basic Engineering Design phase of its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production project using municipal solid waste.
The project is based on the integration of NX Circular™ and NX CPO™ technologies developed by NEXTCHEM, a subsidiary of the Italian group MAIRE, combined with Velocys’ microFTL™ solution, which applies the Fischer–Tropsch process. The facility, planned for the Immingham site, aims to produce 30 million litres of SAF per year, with an estimated reduction of over 100,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually.
Targeting commercial deployment
All necessary technology partners have been selected, from waste suppliers to fuel synthesis and upgrading systems. The project is on track to be Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) ready by early 2026. This progress aligns with the UK’s SAF Mandate, which requires that 10% of national jet fuel demand be met from sustainable sources by 2030.
The Immingham site is presented as the most advanced commercial-scale waste-to-SAF project in the country. Globally, it is also among the closest to operational deployment.
Strengthening technology partnerships
Velocys Chief Executive Officer Matthew Viergutz stated that the decision demonstrates the government’s confidence in the company’s Fischer–Tropsch technology. He emphasised that integrating NEXTCHEM’s gasification systems positions Altalto as the first commercial-scale waste-to-SAF project in the UK.
Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM, indicated that this funding confirms the relevance of the group’s technological approach. He added that the proposed solutions meet current aviation sector needs for alternative supply.
