Heathrow Airport calls for action to make aviation greener

The UK's busiest airport has warned the country risks falling behind others in making aviation greener. Heathrow Airport has called for the government to help make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) more commercially viable in the UK. SAF cuts the amount of carbon emissions released during air travel but is currently several times more expensive to produce than traditional fuel. The government has said it wants five SAF plants under construction by 2025. SAF is produced from sustainable sources such as agricultural waste and used cooking oil. It is claimed to reduce carbon emissions by up to 70%. Heathrow runs a scheme which provides SAF to airlines and covers up to half the extra cost through a GBP38m fund. However, last year only 0.5% of the fuel bought at the airport was through the initiative. It announced on Tuesday that it aims to triple its SAF usage this year, raising the figure to 1.5%. But the major airport fears a tax credit scheme in the US designed to lure investors in SAF production has put the UK at risk of missing out.<br/>