Heathrow accuses ministers of stalling over greener jet fuel

Heathrow has accused the Government of stalling on securing a greener future for aviation. The west London airport urged ministers to legislate for a scheme which will provide more financial certainty to companies which could produce sustainable aviation fuel (Saf) in the UK. In September, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced plans to introduce a revenue certainty mechanism by the end of 2026. Saf is made from sustainable sources such as agricultural waste and used cooking oil, meaning it uses 70% less carbon than traditional jet fuel. It is seen as vital to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon emissions but is currently several times more expensive to produce. Heathrow runs a scheme through which it provides Saf to airlines and covers around half of the extra cost. It announced on Thursday it will make GBP71m available to carriers through the programme in 2024, aiming for 2.5% of fuel used at the airport to be Saf, up from a target of 1.5% this year. The US has introduced a tax credit scheme to lure investors in Saf production. Under the DfT’s Saf mandate, at least 10% of the fuel used by airlines in the UK must be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030. Without UK Saf production, airlines will rely heavily on imports to adhere to the mandate. Heathrow director of carbon Matt Gorman said: “Sustainable aviation fuels are a proven reality – they have already powered hundreds of thousands of flights and we will soon show we can fly the Atlantic fossil fuel free. Heathrow’s first of its kind incentive scheme has seen Saf use at the airport ramp up in recent years. Now, the Government needs to capitalise on this strong demand and legislate for a revenue certainty mechanism to enable a homegrown Saf industry, before it is too late for the UK to benefit from jobs, growth and energy security this would bring.”<br/>