Firefly //

The Future of SAF

At Firefly we are built on more than 20 years of innovation and leadership in sustainable fuels.

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In 2013 we started our journey in the research and development of sustainable aviation fuels.

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In 2021 we entered the ‘Green Fuels, Green Skies’ competition organised by the Department for Transport, and won a £2m research grant to develop our innovative route to SAF.

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Since then we have received further investment from Wizz Air, including an offtake agreement with the potential to save as much as 1.5 million tonnes of 

CO2eq.
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Fast forward to today, Firefly have a well-tested sewage-to-SAF solution and is fast moving towards the fuel qualification process.

We are moving at pace towards commercial SAF production in the UK, rapidly scaling up to multiple locations around the world.

Meet the Team

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James Hygate

Chief Executive Officer

James is the founder of Firefly Green Fuels and comes to the table with over 20 years of experience in the biofuels industry. Founding his first company Green Fuels Limited (GFL) in 2003, he has been a significant player within the sustainable fuel sector for much of his career. Since 2003, GFL has supplied equipment for fuel production in more than 80 countries, and in 2013 the company received a Royal Warrant to supply biofuels to HRH the Prince of Wales. At Firefly James provides overall strategic direction, vision and management and is responsible for investor relations.  

James Hygate headshot

James Hygate

Chief Executive Officer

James is the founder of Firefly Green Fuels and comes to the table with over 20 years of experience in […]

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Paul Hilditch

Chief Operating Officer

A Cambridge graduate with a PhD in biochemistry, Paul has led large-scale programmes across numerous fields in science and business. Paul has successful track record in establishing, growing and managing businesses, demonstrated perhaps most notably in establishing Watermeadow Medical – a profitable medical communications company that he founded and later sold to leading healthcare service provider UDG Healthcare. Since 2013 he has been applying portfolio-based innovations at Green Fuels Research and is a founder of Firefly. At Firefly Green Fuels Paul provides strategic direction, oversight and delivery of the company. 

Paul Hilditch headshot

Paul Hilditch

Chief Operating Officer

A Cambridge graduate with a PhD in biochemistry, Paul has led large-scale programmes across numerous fields in science and business. […]

Rob Hemsley

Chief Financial Officer

Rob has a Masters in Astrophysics and is an FCA with over 20 years financial experience working with owner managed businesses, scale-ups and multinationals. Since 2016, he has worked exclusively with innovative founders and technologies, helping fund and scale impact-driven companies with recent successes in both the aviation and wastewater sectors. Rob is responsible for all things financial at Firefly, providing the economic fuel for the technology to take flight.

Rob Hemsley

Chief Financial Officer

Rob has a Masters in Astrophysics and is an FCA with over 20 years financial experience working with owner managed […]

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Ideh Heidari

Chief Technology Officer

Ideh has a PhD in Chemistry and comes to Firefly with over 15 years of global experience across the energy sector. In that time she has been involved in various projects from CCUS, blue and green H2 production and waste-to-value (Biofuel, SAF, E-Methanol etc.) Her skills in energy transition are coupled with proven experience in building and leading teams, developing business capabilities and leading strategic international growth. At Firefly she leads the project by managing all stakeholders, the selected EPC contractor and site partners to deliver the project from initial planning through to commissioning, build and operation.   

Ideh hallway

Ideh Heidari

Chief Technology Officer

Ideh has a PhD in Chemistry and comes to Firefly with over 15 years of global experience across the energy […]

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Emma Harvey

Chief Sustainability Officer

Emma started out as an academic in health and behavioural sciences, and later moved to working in sustainable business across a variety of small and larger prestigious organisations. From 2007-2010 she led Live Earth and Wembley Stadium’s greening programme, before moving to head up Virgin Atlantic’s multi-award-winning sustainability and SAF programme from 2010 to 2020. Emma works with internal and external stakeholders across the value chain (industry, government, science and non-profits) to integrate the triple bottom line (environment, people and economics) into business strategy, governance and delivery.


Emma supports Firefly within the executive team as an independent net zero and sustainability leadership consultant.

emma

Emma Harvey

Chief Sustainability Officer

Emma started out as an academic in health and behavioural sciences, and later moved to working in sustainable business across […]

Jason

Sérgio Lima

Research Director

Sérgio graduated  with a PhD in Chemistry and has more than 17 years of academic and industrial experience in the development and optimisation of sustainable chemical catalysed processes and heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of renewable feedstocks, e.g., lignocellulosic biomass, oleochemicals and CO2 into high-value chemicals and advanced biofuels. In his role at Green Fuels Research, Sergio oversees the production and testing of our SAF for Firefly.  

Jason

Sérgio Lima

Research Director

Sérgio graduated  with a PhD in Chemistry and has more than 17 years of academic and industrial experience in the […]

Jason

Jason Askey-Wood

Managing Director – Green Fuels

Jason founded Uptown Biodiesel in 2007, becoming London’s leading Biodiesel manufacturer and supplying biodiesel to leading customers like Price Waterhouse Cooper’s (PwC). In 2018 he sold his business to Olleco – a large player in the UK catering sector. As UK Managing Director of Green Fuels, Jason now provides Firefly with business insight and commercial delivery.  

Jason

Jason Askey-Wood

Managing Director – Green Fuels

Jason founded Uptown Biodiesel in 2007, becoming London’s leading Biodiesel manufacturer and supplying biodiesel to leading customers like Price Waterhouse […]

Our Values

Innovation

We believe that we can make a real difference in the world by being inquisitive, creative and driven in the pursuit of scalable, sustainable solutions.

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Integrity

We care, are committed to our mission, and take our work seriously. We are focused and passionate about delivering real change for society.

Community

No one can face such big challenges or deliver solutions alone. We are committed to building collaborations with leaders across the value chain and being responsible citizens with stakeholders inside and outside our business.

Fun

We love and enjoy what we do. That means creating a healthy, supportive environment to work in and having a few laughs along the way too.

Frequently asked questions