Altalto (Immingham) Limited, a subsidiary of Velocys, has received funding from the UK Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund to advance the Basic Engineering Design (BED) for its flagship waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility.
The funding allows Altalto to combine NEXTCHEM’s innovative NX Circular™ gasification and NX CPO™ technology with Velocys’ proven microFTL™ solution. This partnership strengthens the project’s position as the UK’s most advanced commercial-scale municipal solid waste-to-SAF facility, and one of the most immediate globally.
Once operational, the facility will produce 30 million litres of SAF annually from residual waste, significantly reducing carbon emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent per year. The project will also contribute to the UK’s SAF Mandate, which stipulates that 10% of jet fuel demand must come from sustainable sources by 2030.
With all major technology partners on board—covering waste supply, gasification, Velocys’ Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and upgrading systems—the project is on track to reach Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) status by early 2026.
Matthew Viergutz, CEO of Velocys, commented, “This award underscores the UK Government’s confidence in both Altalto and Velocys’ Fischer-Tropsch technology. The integration of NEXTCHEM’s gasification systems positions Altalto to become the first commercial-scale waste-to-SAF facility in the UK, moving us closer to delivering meaningful volumes of sustainable aviation fuel.”
Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM (a division of MAIRE Group), added, “This award affirms the flexibility and robustness of our technological approach, which is perfectly suited to meet the decarbonisation needs of key sectors, particularly aviation.”
Key Facts About Altalto:
- Annual Output: 30 million litres of SAF
- Feedstock: Municipal solid waste and commercial waste streams
- Carbon Benefit: Over 100,000 tonnes of CO₂e savings annually
- Location: Immingham, Humber region
- Timeline: FEED-ready by Q1 2026; operational by 2030
This project represents a significant step forward in the UK’s transition to more sustainable aviation fuels and underscores the role of waste-to-fuel technologies in meeting the country’s ambitious environmental goals.
