UK parliament approves SAF mandate from 2025

Market: Biofuels, E-fuels, Electricity, Hydrogen, Oil products
06/11/24

The UK parliament has approved the proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate that will come into effect on 1 January, 2025.

Obligated suppliers will have to deliver a 2pc share of SAF in 2025, increasing to 10pc in 2030, 15pc in 2035 and 22pc in 2040. The obligation will remain at 22pc from 2040 "until there is greater certainty regarding SAF supply".

The obligation arises at the point at which a supplier's jet fuel can be supplied only to UK aviation.

Hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) SAF can be used to meet 100pc of SAF demand in 2025 and 2026, but will be capped at 71pc in 2030 and 35pc in 2040. An obligation for Power-to-Liquid (PtL) SAF will be introduced from 2028 at 0.2pc of total jet fuel demand, rising to 0.5pc in 2030 and 3.5pc in 2040.

Buy-out mechanisms will be set at the equivalent of £4.70/l ($6.10/l) and £5.00/l ($6.50/l) for the main and PtL obligations, respectively.

"It is projected that, between 2025 and 2040, the SAF mandate could deliver up to 25mn t of SAF, securing a saving of up to 54mn t of carbon dioxide", said transport minister John Hendy.

The UK confirmed on 17 July it will introduce the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) bill to support SAF production. The government previously said it aims to introduce the mechanism, which will be industry funded, by the end of 2026.

"Together with the SAF mandate, [the mechanism] will give the investment community confidence to invest in these novel and innovative technologies", Hendy said.

By Evelina Lungu

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