The UK Government has awarded £63 million to 17 domestic clean aviation fuel projects, supporting around 1,400 jobs and reinforcing Britain’s ambition to become a global leader in sustainable aviation
In a significant step toward decarbonising the skies, the UK government has announced £63 million in funding for homegrown projects developing sustainable aviation fuels. Backed by the Advanced Fuels Fund, the initiative aims to accelerate the transition to cleaner air travel while strengthening the country’s position in the global race for green innovation.
The UK will become a global hub for sustainable aviation fuel production
Yesterday, the Aviation Minister announced the 17 cutting-edge UK companies that will share £63 million to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The funding boost will support 1,400 jobs and secure Britain’s position as a global leader in the green aviation market, which is critical to driving sustainable growth within the aviation sector.
Creating a clean aviation ecosystem will help power the next generation of airport infrastructure and capacity scale-up, kickstarting economic growth and delivering the UK’s clean energy superpower ambitions to deliver the Plan for Change. For example, low-carbon fuel production could potentially add up to £5 billion to the economy by 2050, a promising sign for the UK’s economic future.
Paving the way for the green aviation revolution
Announcing the new funding at the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, which received £1.5m, Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said: “This £63 million is a liftoff for Britain’s green aviation revolution. We’re not just backing brilliant British innovation, we’re creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and positioning the UK at the forefront of the global sustainable aviation market.
From the labs of Sheffield to the runways of the future – this is how we kickstart economic growth, secure energy independence and make Britain a clean energy superpower.”
Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Managing Director of the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, who is leading the project, said: “It is fantastic to see the University of Sheffield playing a leading role in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and supporting the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce its emissions. At Sheffield, we have some of the most advanced SAF research facilities in Europe. We are excited to work with partners from the industry to help them test and develop new fuels and next-generation clean energy technologies.”
The funding winners include a range of companies, spread across the country, such as OXCCU Tech, which is developing a demonstration plant at Oxford Airport, and LanzaJet, which is building a commercial-scale plant in Teesside.
Andrew Symes, CEO and Co-Founder of OXCCU, said: “Support from the Advanced Fuels Fund is a key step in scaling our technology. This funding enables the detailed design and construction of OX2, our demonstration plant, which is set to launch in 2026, and builds on the successful delivery of OX1. It brings us closer to producing lower-cost, lower-carbon aviation fuel and supports the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in SAF production.”
Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, said: “We’re proud that Project Speedbird, developed in partnership with British Airways, has been recognised by the Department for Transport as part of its continued commitment to advancing SAF in the UK.
This support demonstrates confidence in LanzaJet’s technology and the critical role ethanol-to-SAF can play in delivering economic growth, creating jobs and decarbonising air travel. Project Speedbird is vital to building a national SAF industry in the UK and to unlocking opportunity and innovation in the region.
We thank DfT for its leadership and vision in accelerating the transition to net-zero aviation.”
