The FastAceJet programme has outlined the urgent carbon use reduction needed in the aviation industry. With our partners, we’ve developed new, scientifically-sound, novel processes that could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel in the future.

The project has placed the UK at the forefront of SAF research and brought us closer to creating an economically viable and commercially attractive product. This could end the aviation industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and ultimately eliminate carbon emissions from the jet fuel lifecycle. By leading SAF research, the UK could become the sustainable jet fuel hub of the future, with a plethora of economic benefits, including the creation of new high-value jobs.

Although there’s further work to be done to improve the economic viability of our processes for jet fuel production, the lipid and aldehyde outputs could be leveraged in other industries where they’re needed, such as fast-moving consumer goods. Novel techniques that recycle carbon dioxide together with green hydrogen present substantial environmental benefits for society beyond the aviation industry.

The next step for this SAF project will be to take our scientifically proven processes and develop them into economically viable methods.