Advanced Fuel Fund winning projects will help create up to 10,000 green jobs by 2035 and enhance the economy by around £1.8 billion a year
- UK’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry to receive £53 million boost, helping to save 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year
- Advanced Fuels Fund projects could help create tens of thousands of jobs and grow the economy
- investment is part of the government’s plan to deliver on our net zero commitments and make low-carbon flight a reality
Passengers are another step closer to flying without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions thanks to £53 million of government funding announced on Friday (17 November 2023).
From utilising forest waste to transforming power to liquid fuel, 9 pioneering projects helping to create a brighter, cleaner future have been awarded a share of £53 million in the latest round of the Department for Transport (DfT) Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF).
A statement by the UK Government said: “The full £135 million AFF pot is designed to help companies convert waste materials and by-products – such as household waste like cooking oil and industrial gases – into fuels. It can also help achieve greenhouse gas emissions savings of more than 70% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel.
“Winning projects from both rounds – spanning the length and breadth of the country from the Orkney Islands to the North of England and South Wales – will help create up to 10,000 green jobs by 2035 and boost the economy by around £1.8 billion every year.
“This round’s winning projects include a demo plant converting sawmill and forestry waste and a commercial plant using power-to-liquid technology to convert CO2 and green hydrogen into plane fuel. Together, both projects could create over 70,000 tonnes of SAF a year.”
It means the UK could soon have the capability to produce up to 810,000 tonnes of SAF – enough to fly around the equator of Earth an estimated 3,108 times.
Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said: “The investment we’re announcing today demonstrates our confidence in the UK’s SAF industry – creating jobs, encouraging overseas investment and levelling up communities across the whole country. Thanks to this government’s backing, the UK is quickly becoming a SAF superpower – ensuring people can continue to travel how they want in a way that’s fit for the future. “
Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: “Delivering a UK SAF industry this decade is a must if we are to drive down emissions from aviation, meet our 10% SAF mandate and reduce costs for consumers. We welcome this latest funding announcement, which will support a number of innovative projects across all parts of the UK.”
“With the upcoming SAF mandate requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to come from sustainable feedstocks by 2030, the AFF is helping deliver that target. This will see the industry save up to 2.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually – equal to taking 1,296,468 petrol cars off the road in a year.”
Amy Hebert, CEO of Arcadia eFuels, which has been awarded £12.3 million through the AFF, said: “We applaud the UK and DfT for recognising the need to support SAF production in order to expedite the decarbonisation of aviation. Grant programs like this, combined with other incentives, will help build commercial-scale facilities for the production of SAF.”
Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: “Here on Teesside, we are leading the way in sustainable aviation fuel and this announcement just goes to show it with 75% of this fund going to local projects. We are committed to making aviation sustainable to secure the future of Teesside Airport and by getting ahead of the curve we can make sure we are best placed to lead the transition to SAF.”
Read the full UK Government press release HERE
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