The UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate formally has gone into effect from the 1st of January 2025, making flights more environmentally friendly.
Compared to conventional fossil-based aviation fuel, SAF emits 70% fewer carbon emissions on average and is derived from sustainable sources such as leftover cooking oil or household garbage.
According to the regulations, this kind of fuel must now account for at least 2% of all jet fuel used in aircraft departing the UK starting in 2025. This percentage will increase annually to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040.
“From this moment on, aviation will be a greener, more sustainable form of travel, and today marks a significant milestone for the UK SAF industry.
With thousands of jobs supporting the UK SAF industry and flying becoming more popular than ever, the mandate will help deliver our Plan for Change helping to grow the economy and giving people the freedom to travel in a more sustainable way.”
Mike Kane, UK Minister for Aviation.
By 2030, the UK aircraft industry should receive almost 1.2 million tonnes of SAF annually, which is enough to make 3,000 round trips around the world, according to these challenging but attainable goals.
The UK is leading the charge to decarbonize air travel and is assisting in the launch of the government’s Plan for Change after being among the first nations in the world to enact the mandate.
It will support thousands of skilled jobs throughout the nation, contribute to economic growth, and help establish the UK as a clean energy superpower, all in conjunction with the other steps being taken to develop a UK SAF sector.
“Sustainable Aviation welcomes the introduction of this mandate, which will drive the demand needed to help deliver SAF at scale.
SAF is a critical component in the industry’s plan to reach net zero, representing almost 40% of the carbon reduction that will make net zero a reality in 2050.
Alongside the mandate, we also need a well-designed revenue certainty mechanism to help accelerate domestic SAF production and support compliance with the mandate, by kickstarting UK SAF production in earnest this decade. We look forward to the upcoming consultation and to the mechanism being delivered into law as soon as possible.”
Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive of Sustainable Aviation.
One significant step in the UK’s journey to decarbonise aviation is the launch of the SAF Mandate, which follows the inaugural meeting of the Jet Zero Taskforce, a newly redesigned organisation that is laying out a clear course for cleaner aviation.
In order to entice investment in new facilities in the UK, the government has also indicated that it will implement a revenue certainty system for SAF producers.
Together with the mandate, it will assist lower risk, provide investors with the assurance they need to put money into UK SAF plants, and promote the supply of SAF for the UK aviation industry.
Early this year, a second round of consultations on the revenue assurance mechanism will begin.
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