The United Kingdom (UK) will lay down sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) requirements for airlines flying out of that country, from 2030.
UK SAF REQUIREMENTS
Airlines in the UK will be required to fuel up with predetermined minimal amounts of sustainable aviation fuels.
According to the Financial Times, 10% of all jet fuel on flights taking off from the UK will need to include sustainable aviation fuels by 2030, the government said.
REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS
The initiative will help the UK’s aviation sector to reduce its environmental impact.
SAF can emit around 70% less carbon over its life cycle than traditional aviation fuels.
INCREASED FUEL COSTS
The move will assist the UK to transition to cleaner but more expensive fuel sources.
The cost of cleaner aviation fuels is higher than traditional aviation fuel.
This would mean increased fuel costs for airlines, which ultimately translates into higher ticket prices for passengers.
Cleaner fuels are currently at least three times more expensive than traditional jet fuel.
In addition, the fuels are only produced in very small quantities. Last year, less than 1% of the UK’s jet fuel was made from SAF.
SAF PRODUCTION IN THE UK
The UK government intends to have at least five commercial-scale SAF plants under construction by 2025.
This is to speed up the production of cleaner aviation fuels, amid growing demand from airlines.
Authorities in the UK are moving ahead with this initiative by greenlighting the establishment of SAF plant projects.
SAF PRODUCTION FACILITIES
Last month a Teesworks refinery was given approval to refine Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the United Kingdom.
In addition, LanzaTech UK Ltd, a subsidiary of LanzaTech Global Inc, was also given approval to launch a Port Talbot SAF project on 16 March.
The plant will utilize LanzaJet’s alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology to convert sustainably sourced ethanol into SAF.
RAISING AWARENESS OF SAF
Reports show that many people do not know what SAF is.
A survey conducted at London’s Heathrow Airport revealed that only around 10 percent of respondents knew what SAF was.
To raise awareness of cleaner fuels in aviation Heathrow Airport launched renewable biofuel Fly UP breakfasts.
These breakfasts aim to raise consumer knowledge of SAF.
