Bristol / Ankara – May 20, 2026: Firefly, the sustainable aviation fuel innovator, has signed a partnership deal with Turkish engineering firm Altaca, providing key technology for the firm's planned UK facility. The Bristol-based developer — which uses treated human sewage (biosolids) as a feedstock — now possesses all the necessary components to scale production and lead the effort to decarbonise the aviation industry.
Under the terms of the agreement, Altaca will supply Firefly with its CatLiq hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology, used to convert sewage sludge into crude oil — a crucial upstream step in the biofuel production process. This serves as the final link in the supply chain, enabling Firefly to scale its "wet-to-jet" platform and provide sustainable, affordable fuel for an industry facing significant cost and regulatory challenges.
Firefly will source raw material for its first project from UK water companies, addressing large-scale waste disposal challenges. Chevron Lummus Global provides technology for downstream refining, and airline Wizz Air has already secured a 15-year offtake agreement for the finished fuel. The partnership with Altaca ensures the fuel can be produced locally, insulated from global supply instabilities.
The deal was signed during a ceremony at the British Embassy in Ankara, hosted by British Ambassador to Turkey Jill Morris CMG, and attended by Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan. The agreement was finalized by Firefly co-founders James Hygate OBE (CEO) and Paul Hilditch (Strategy Director) alongside Altaca co-founders Alper Önoğlu (President) and Taner Önoğlu (Vice President).
"We've looked around the world and undertaken extensive testing to find the best-in-class supplier for this key technology — and we found it in Altaca," said Hygate. "With all the pieces now in place, we have an end-to-end platform and a new category of waste-to-fuels infrastructure. We can now get to work on saving carbon by the gigatonne."
"Our engineering solution provides the essential upstream step required to transform sewage sludge into high-quality bio-crude oil, enabling the production of truly sustainable aviation fuel," said Alper Önoğlu, President of Altaca. "This partnership is a testament to our commitment to engineering excellence and our shared vision of decarbonising the aviation industry on a global scale."
