Manchester airport has struck a partnership to provide a direct feed of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – making it the first airport in the UK to do so.
A Memorandum of Understanding with Fulcrum BioEnergy has been signed by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, with Fulcrum to support the development and delivery of SAF produced at a new waste to fuels biorefinery in Cheshire.
It could see up to 10% of the fuel used by aircraft at Manchester airport replaced with SAF within five years of a new biorefinery becoming operational.
As part of the agreement – backed by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng – SAF will be supplied to Manchester airport through a pipeline that already runs between Stanlow and the UK’s third-largest gateway.
Fulcrum converts non-recyclable residual wastes into sustainable fuels. The new biorefinery, Fulcrum NorthPoint, is part of wider plans to establish the northwest as the leading producer of SAF in the UK.
Research by E4Tech in a 2020 sustainable aviation publication showed that a northwest SAF cluster could generate up to 1,520 jobs and £219 million to the local economy in the northwest – and 6,500 jobs and £929 million boot to GVA annually across the UK.
Fulcrum NorthPoint is expected to produce about 100 million litres of SAF a year – which, when blended 50/50 with traditional jet fuel, could fill the tanks of about 1,200 Boeing 777-300s.
The fuel will have a CO2 footprint “at least 70% lower” than traditional jet fuel and will be produced from residual household and commercial wastes, which would otherwise be destined for landfill or incineration.
Once blended and certified, the SAF can be used in aircraft without the need for modifications.
MAG says it will “explore opportunities” to supply SAF to Stansted and East Midlands airports.
The group published its annual CSR Report last week detailing its work over the last 12 months in tackling climate change. It is offering passengers at all three of its airports the opportunity to offset flight emissions in via CarbonClick.
Neil Robinson, MAG’s corporate social responsibility and airspace change director, said: “Today really is a landmark moment in our journey towards a decarbonised aviation sector. By working towards a future supply of SAF, direct to Manchester airport via existing pipelines from a local refinery, we’re making sustainable operations accessible for airlines based here.”
“The introduction of SAF is testament to the innovation we have seen, and the collaboration between airports, airlines, the government and suppliers like Fulcrum to achieve real progress towards our goal of Net Zero for UK aviation by 2050.
“We are committed to ensuring that this progress continues through our role on the Government’s Jet Zero Council, on Sustainable Aviation and through our own targets in our CSR Strategy where we’re working to becoming Net Zero at our airports by 2038.”
MAG was a founding member of industry coalition Sustainable Aviation in 2005 and is one of two airport operators on the government’s Jet Zero Council.
Five years of free landing charges are being offered to the first zero emission flight from a MAG airport, valued at over £1m.
Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited UK, a subsidiary of Fulcrum Bioenergy, Inc., is currently commissioning the world’s first household waste to fuels facility – the Sierra BioFuels Plant – located in Nevada, US.
The Fulcrum NorthPoint facility will use technologies being deployed at its facility in Nevada, which it says will reduce ‘first of a kind’ risks often associated with new technology. Fulcrum was shortlisted for funding from the UK Department for Transport’s ‘Green Fuels, Green Skies’ competition, the proceeds of which will help develop the NorthPoint project further.
UK Managing Director Jeff Ovens said: “Support for SAF in the UK has reached new heights and the development of the Fulcrum NorthPoint SAF facility in Cheshire will bring significant volumes of much needed low carbon fuel for airlines, either those based here in the UK, or flying in from overseas.
“Our partnership with MAG as an airport operator will bridge airlines and fuel suppliers and make SAF accessible and more widespread within the sector.”
He said SAF “will play an integral role” in the aviation sector reaching its 2050 Net Zero target.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK said: “SAF is today’s technology and proof positive that UK aviation has a bright and sustainable future ahead of it on our road to net zero carbon.
“Today’s announcement from MAG and Fulcrum marks a key milestone, as innovation moves towards reality with airlines soon able to make use of SAF from Manchester airport, lowering our sector’s environmental impact and showing just what can be done here in the UK.”