Coalition group Sustainable Aviation has responded to the UK Secretary of State for Transport’s comments on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) by saying that it agrees that these are essential in order to achieve Jet Zero. 

Sustainable Aviation chair Adam Morton said: “SAF technology is available now, can cut carbon by at least 70 per cent compared with fossil fuels and requires no modifications to existing aircraft or refuelling infrastructure. They can also be produced throughout the UK, creating tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions of pounds for our economy in remaining and former industrial regions.”

Morton continued: “Establishing the UK’s Jet Zero Council was a big step forward. The necessary private sector investment is poised to invest, get the first SAF facilities up and running, and fuelling flights by the middle of this decade. 

“However, to make this a reality, the government needs to urgently accelerate its support for this nascent industry. Most importantly, this means introducing a mandate and commercialisation policy to reduce the overall risk of these early projects. 

“With the right action from government in 2021, the UK can lead the world in both sustainable aviation fuel and deliver Jet Zero.”

Sustainable Aviation is the coalition of UK airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers and air navigation service providers committed to cutting aviation’s environmental impact and building a world leading aviation sector. 

Sustainable Aviation Fuels are produced from a range of feedstocks, from municipal waste to ethanol, and have carbon savings of up to 70% compared with fossil fuels. 

Out of all available solutions to decarbonising aviation, the SAF is market ready and requires no modifications to existing aircraft or refuelling infrastructure, and will remain an enduring low carbon solution for medium and long-haul flight. 

The SAF roadmap shows how a 70 per cent growth in passengers can be accommodated by 2050, while reducing net carbon emissions levels from just over 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year down to zero. This can be achieved through smarter flight operations, new aircraft and engine technology, modernising airspace, the use of sustainable aviation fuels and significant investment in carbon reductions through smart market-based policy measures.

Ryanair recently announced that it had joined the “Fuelling Flight Initiative” in its commitment to supporting SAFs as an “essential element” to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the aviation industry.