UK Faces Urgent Need to Boost Domestic Jet Fuel Production
Jonathan Hinkles, CEO of Skybus, raises a critical question: “Do we need greater resilience from a homegrown perspective to refine more jet fuel within the UK?” This challenge has intensified as jet fuel supplies tighten, putting summer holiday flights under threat.
With only a handful of refineries remaining, the UK government has urged existing facilities to prioritize jet fuel production. However, industry expert Amaar Khan cautions that ramping up output “doesn’t happen overnight” and won’t produce a significant immediate boost.
Scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel Offers a Promising Solution
One compelling avenue lies in expanding production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This synthetic alternative derives from waste materials like used cooking oil and agricultural byproducts, energy crops, or via cutting-edge processes converting water and carbon dioxide into liquid e-fuels using renewable energy.
SAF’s environmental benefits are well documented: it emits substantially less carbon than traditional fossil fuels, aligning with both UK and EU mandates targeting major SAF adoption over the next quarter-century. However, the sector remains nascent, with limited supply mostly imported from East Asia and priced at a premium—often exceeding $1,000 per tonne above conventional jet fuel.
Hinkles acknowledges these hurdles but believes overcoming them would significantly reduce dependence on volatile foreign fuel markets. “The real question is: can we scale up SAF production meaningfully in the UK or Europe to replace a growing share of jet fuel?” he explains.
Environmental Advocates Back Increased Local SAF Production
Green campaigners echo this view. Tom Taylor, UK policy manager at transport lobby group Transport and Environment, states, “Increasing SAF won’t eliminate jet fuel imports overnight. But scaling up can shift aviation fuel sourcing from geopolitically sensitive fossil fuels to locally managed renewable energy and waste streams.”
As summer approaches, the urgency to strengthen domestic jet fuel resilience grows. Boosting SAF production presents a promising path to secure the UK’s aviation future while advancing environmental goals.
