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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
UK SAF mandate becomes law as government revamps aviation net zero taskforce
4/12/2024
News
The UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate was signed into law last month, with 22% of all jet fuel set to go green by 2040. The UK government also launched a revamped Jet Zero Taskforce to boost efforts to make greener air travel a reality.
The SAF Mandate requires an increasing amount of SAF in overall jet fuel from 1 January 2025, starting at 2% of total UK jet fuel demand, increasing on a linear basis to 10% in 2030 and then to 22% in 2040. The obligation will remain at 22% from 2040 until there is greater certainty regarding SAF supply, says the government.
The government claims the UK is one of the first countries in the world to legislate in this way. As reported in New Energy World earlier this year, the mandate is expected to drive demand for SAF in the UK, deliver emission reductions up to 2.7mn tCO2e in 2030 and up to 6.3mn tCO2e in 2040.
In November, the then UK Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh launched a revamped Jet Zero Taskforce that aims to ‘serve as the driving force to transform how people fly – aligning with the government’s missions to make the UK a clean energy superpower and kickstart the economy’.
The Task Force comprises some of the most senior figures in government and the aviation sector, including the Transport Secretary, Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, CEOs of major airlines such as easyJet and Virgin, airports like Heathrow and Manchester, as well as fuel producers, trade bodies and leading universities.
Building on the previous Jet Zero Council, the Taskforce will support the production and delivery of SAF and zero emission flights, as well as look at how to improve aviation systems to make them more efficient. It will also explore the sector’s demand for greenhouse gas removals and the non-CO2 impacts of aviation, such as vapour trails left in the sky, to account for the sector’s overall environmental impact.
Launching the Taskforce, Haigh said: ‘Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face… We need to make flying a cleaner, greener experience and the new and improved Jet Zero Taskforce will be the driving force behind this transition.’
CEO of trade body Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade commented: ‘Collaboration with government and across the whole sector and supply chain is vital to making the rapid progress we need… to help usher in a new era of sustainable air travel, with all the jobs and investment that entails.’
The Taskforce is set to meet for the first time today.
Underneath its executive level will be a smaller, focused Expert Group to be chaired by Mike Kane MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, and Holly Boyd-Boland, Vice President of Corporate Development at Virgin Atlantic.
IAG announces new SAF deal with Infinium
In related news, International Airlines Group (IAG) has signed a new SAF purchase agreement with e-SAF producer Infinium, which plans to supply the UK market with power-to-liquids e-SAF from late 2026.
Under the terms of the 10-year agreement, Infinium will supply IAG with e-SAF to support its five airlines: Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling. Last year, IAG airlines used approximately 12% of the world’s supply of SAF (based on IATA’s latest figures for SAF production in 2023).
The e-SAF will be produced at Infinium’s Project Roadrunner facility in West Texas, US, which is set to be the largest global producer of e-SAF once fully operational, according to IAG.
EI aviation resources
The Energy Institute’s Aviation Committee maintains a portfolio of over 50 resources on fuel handling to help control aviation fuel quality and its safe and efficient deployment for more than 100,000/day commercial flights worldwide (see the full listing at the EI’s Aviation Fuel Collection).
