Advanced Hydrocarbon Fuels Limited (AHFL) is set to establish the first commercial-scale plant in the UK to showcase its ground-breaking process for converting waste plastic into fuel. Unlike traditional pyrolysis methods that require a catalyst or incineration, AHFL’s innovative process overcomes long-standing environmental and practical challenges associated with plastic breakdown.
This remarkable technological advancement allows AHFL’s plant to operate continuously, effectively tackling plastic waste while generating cleaner, greener, and commercially viable alternative fuel. Moreover, unlike most other efforts to convert waste plastic into fuel, AHFL’s process proves profitable, with a projected capital payback of as little as 18 months from the commencement of production.
AHFL’s process utilizes energy-efficient “gasification” to break down plastic at much lower temperatures, avoiding the harmful emissions associated with incineration and extreme heating methods. Notably, their system operates without the need for a catalyst, eliminating the release of hazardous chemicals commonly associated with catalytic pyrolysis.
With a fully operational line capable of processing over 2 metric tonnes of waste plastic per hour, AHFL can produce approximately 57,600 liters of fuel daily, amounting to nearly 21 million liters of fuel per line per year.
Crucially, AHFL’s process adheres to stringent environmental regulations and prioritizes health and safety measures, ensuring compliance with UK standards. The successful implementation of a regulation-compliant UK plant will serve as a blueprint for AHFL to construct similar plants worldwide, meeting rigorous regulatory requirements globally.
AHFL CEO Brian Ablett said: “AHFL is the solution to a problem that scientists and businesses have been attempting to solve for years without success. We have created a cheap, clean, efficient, safe, continuous and commercially viable process to turn mixed, end of life waste plastic, the scourge of our environment, into multipurpose fuel that is cleaner than the fossil fuels on which most of the world still relies. It’s not just good for the environment, it’s good business.”
