The UK government imposes new sustainable aviation fuel targets on flights taking off from the UK
According to the SAF mandate, all flights taking off from the UK will need to source 10% of their fuel from sustainable sources by 2030.
Image by Arkin Si
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate, also known as the SAF mandate, is a result of the UK government’s Jet Zero Strategy which is expected to introduce measures on how the UK will achieve net zero emissions from all sectors of the UK economy by 2050.
According to the Jet Zero Strategy findings, sustainable aviation fuel emits 70% less greenhouse gases compared to fossil kerosene that is currently used across the world in the aviation industry. SAF is produced through waste material and by-products such as household waste, cooking oil, and industrial gases.
In addition to putting the 10% sustainable fuel requirement in law, the SAF mandate framework is designed to drive demand for sustainable aviation fuel in the UK and worldwide while incentivising SAF production in the UK. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry by 2.7 Mt in 2030 and 6.3 Mt in 2040.
Subject to approval by the parliament, the mandate will come into force in January 2025 and will ensure that 1.2 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel is supplied to the UK aviation industry each year. Furthermore, it is expected to create over 10,000 skilled jobs across the country through the years and add over £1.8 billion to the UK economy.
As a part of the collective initiative, the UK government has also shortlisted 13 organisations to develop sustainable aviation fuel production plants in the UK through the £135 million Advanced Fuel Fund aimed at driving the adoption of SAF in the aviation industry.
The mandate further identifies that sustainable aviation fuel is more expensive than traditional jet fuel, and has incorporated mechanisms to ensure the burden is not passed on to the consumers entirely. Accordingly, the mandate provides the government with the power to control higher prices of SAF in the case of unexpected shortages, leaving the impact on consumers at a minimum. It also allows the government to manage the prices of sustainable aviation fuel and minimise the impact on flight tickets when required.
Speaking on this mandate, the Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:
“Sustainable aviation fuel protects the future of UK aviation, the thousands of British jobs that depend on it, and the holidays and business travel flights that we all rely on. As part of our plan to grow the economy, the measures announced today will give both UK aviation and the UK SAF industry the certainty they need to keep creating skilled British jobs while giving passengers the freedom to continue travelling by air in a way that’s fit for the future.”
This initiative has so far been welcomed by leaders in the aviation and travel industries such as Karen Dee, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, and Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG.
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