Special partnership

Synagro Technologies and Firefly Green Fuels have partnered to bring Firefly’s novel fuel production techniques to the American market.
Synagro, a North American provider of sustainable solutions for biosolids, organics and residuals, has agreed to be the exclusive supplier of the biosolids feedstock used in Firefly’s innovative process.
This partnership will enable Firefly’s groundbreaking sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production pathway to scale across the country.
Firefly has developed a unique process to turn biosolids into a product slate of highly sustainable, high-performance fuels, including SAF.
The company uses a process known as hydrothermal liquefaction, which chemically alters biosolids waste, breaking it down into biocrude and biochar.
The crude is then upgraded into SAF, and the remaining biochar goes to various other uses.
Independent analysis by Cranfield University has shown Firefly’s SAF offers a highly significant 92% CO2e saving versus fossil jet fuel.
Synagro’s processes: Circularity through regeneration
For nearly four decades, Synagro has partnered with stakeholders to protect the environment, clean the water and serve communities.
With the most experienced team in the industry, Synagro provides circular solutions for customers by diverting material away from landfills and creating products and services that support regenerative agriculture and promote the environmental health of communities.
Synagro’s leadership in sustainability continues to advance, as outlined in its newly released 2023 Sustainability Report.
Achievement highlights include more than 16 million tonnes of residuals managed, over 80% sent to beneficial use and over 2 million tons of CO2e avoided.
Growing sustainably is at the heart of Synagro’s business and is central to its purpose as a company.
Its management processes are key to recycling organic waste and mitigating climate change.
Synagro is pursuing multiple, innovative pathways to reduce its own environmental footprint as well its customers’. Expanding into natural and innovative adjacencies is key to its growth as a business and its purpose to have a net positive impact on both people and the planet.
Synagro: Transforming biosolids into renewables
As Synagro continues to grow sustainably, it is focused on evolving its processes to help solve some of the world’s greatest climate challenges. A
ccording to the World Economic Forum, aviation accounts for approximately 2% of global energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has grown faster than rail, road or shipping in recent decades.
With this impact, there are new and emerging technologies working to convert biosolids into low-carbon SAF.
Synagro is a leading provider of biosolids management services in the US and Canada, and has the opportunity to serve as a key supply chain partner in SAF production.
Firefly’s Technology: Transforming waste into truly sustainable fuel
Firefly’s technology originated in the laboratories of Green Fuels, a pioneer in renewable fuels founded in 2003 and which was awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment from the former HRH the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. Firefly demonstrates an integrated technology route to SAF using biosolids as feedstock, addressing a market opportunity and unmet need.
This route, once qualified to international standards, will make a significant contribution to the supply of SAF globally.
Firefly is currently building a first-of-a-kind, full-scale facility in Harwich, England, and expects to expand into North America in the near future.
“This is an unparalleled opportunity for Firefly – biosolids are our feedstock, and Synagro is the leading provider in the US.
“It’s a partnership that makes sense, between two companies uniquely focused on finding novel climate solutions. There is a huge future need for SAF in North America and by working together we can bring operations online quickly, creating new jobs and vast volumes of truly sustainable fuel,” said James Hygate, chief executive officer, Firefly Green Fuels.
Synagro and Firefly alliance
Synagro brings its strong relationships with municipalities, where biosolids are sourced, along with its transportation solutions and expertise in transforming biosolids into a form Firefly can use to create SAF.
Firefly is expanding into North America, and the two companies have partnered to prove out the technology and secure additional participants.
Synagro and Firefly will work together to determine the optimal pathway for biosolids to SAF fuel production, with the aim of pairing Firefly’s technology with Synagro’s feedstock expertise and extensive logistics network.
SAF versus fossil jet fuel
To reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry, the US and many other leading economic countries have established mandates requiring flights to use a percentage blend of SAF in their fuels from 2030 onwards.
As these mandates drive global demand, the US will need more SAF producers in order to meet increased demand.
Firefly’s technology is notably less energy-intensive than other pathways to SAF and offers a highly significant 92% CO2e savings versus fossil jet fuel.
Partnership and SAF pricing
At the moment and for the foreseeable future, SAF is in very high demand with limited supply entering the global market.
When this fact is paired with an increase in mandated usage, it is likely prices will continue to reflect these economic realities.
Hence, the importance of this remarkable partnership. Biosolids are an inexpensive, highly abundant and sustainable feedstock.
Bringing more SAF production online in the U.S. will help to better balance this supply and promote the low carbon economy.

For more information: Visit flyfirefly.uk and synargo.com