UK launches SAF mandate consultation, unveils funding

The UK has begun consulting on a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate, proposing up to 10pc SAF by 2030 and up to 75pc by 2050 with the mandate starting in 2025.

The government proposed to implement the mandate as a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scheme, with the obligation set to fall on the fuel supplier, and to allow only waste-derived biofuels, renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs), SAF from nuclear energy and recycled carbon fuels (RCFs).

The government said that it may cap the share of mandated SAF produced through the hydroprocessed ester and fatty acids (HEFA) pathway, in order to drive commercialisation of less-developed technologies and to prioritise biofuels use on roads in the short term. It will also consider the introduction of a multiplier or sub-targets for synthetic fuels.

To avoid the double counting of emissions saved through SAF, the UK proposed that product supplied under the mandate would not count towards decarbonisation targets from other legislated GHG obligations, either in the UK or abroad. The government will also seek feedback on whether a buy-out mechanism should be introduced.

The consultation closes on 19 September and results will be published in autumn or winter.

This follows the EU's proposal of a SAF mandate for jet fuel suppliers, which would require aircraft landing at EU airports to use blended jet fuel with a 2pc SAF share by 2025, 5pc by 2030, 20pc by 2035, 32pc by 2040 and 63pc by 2050. Synthetic aviation fuels, including hydrogen, would rise from a 0.7pc share by 2030 to 11pc by 2045 and 28pc by 2050.

To counter tankering strategies, where aircraft heading to airports with more expensive refuelling services take on larger amounts than needed to save on fuel costs, the EU has proposed that the amount of aviation fuel taken on by aircraft operators at EU airports must be at least 90pc of their annual fuel requirements.

Yesterday the UK's Department for Transport (DfT) said it will take steps to mitigate the potential risk of tankering in the UK.

The launch of the UK SAF mandate consultation coincides with the government's announcement that eight companies have been shortlisted to share £15mn government funding through its 'Green Fuel, Green Skies' competition to support development of production plants to turn waste into SAF. The shortlisted companies plan to produce at least a combined 500mn l of biojet from a combination of CO2 captured from the atmosphere with hydrogen from water, from alcohol derived from wastes, from everyday household and commercial waste and from sewage. The projects are at different stages of development and will be located across the UK.

Last week the UK began a consultation called Jet Zero, which commits the aviation sector to a net-zero emissions target by 2050. The government has also set a target to reach net-zero emissions in UK domestic aviation by 2040 and for all airport operations in England to have zero emissions by that date.

By Giulia Squadrin