Paul Hubbard, Managing Director and CEO of Northpointe Energy, tells us about a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project where waste left after recycling is used to create low-carbon aviation fuel
NorthPoint is a pioneering SAF project set to be developed at Ellesmere Port, within the newly designated Origin Green Industrial Zone – a leading hub for industrial decarbonisation in the North West of England.
SAF is a low-carbon alternative to traditional fossil-derived jet fuel that can be produced from sustainable sources, such as non-recyclable residual wastes that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled. Using SAF reduces CO2 emissions on a lifecycle basis, compared to the fossil-derived jet fuel it replaces. It can also help improve air quality around airports.
Why is it needed?
The UK has a legally binding obligation to achieve ‘net-zero’ carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, yet the government has set ambitious carbon neutrality targets for domestic aviation (2040) and the aviation sector as a whole (2050).
With air travel demand continuing to grow and no scalable zero-emission alternatives available for short to long-haul flights in the near term, SAF offers the most immediate and practical solution.
NorthPoint will help cut carbon emissions from existing aircraft, build a domestic supply chain for low-carbon fuels, strengthen energy security, and position the UK as a global leader in green aviation.
Even after recycling and energy recovery activities have taken place, the UK deals with millions of tonnes of waste, which currently ends up in landfill or is exported to European countries for incineration.
NorthPoint can utilise this waste as a resource to produce jet fuel with a net greenhouse gas reduction of up to 100%* compared to traditional, fossil-based fuel. NorthPoint fuel is a ‘drop-in’ renewable fuel with zero sulphur and very low levels of particulates, helping to improve local air quality, particularly around airports.
Key facts
- Over £2 billion investment in the UK
- 480,000 tonnes diverted from landfill or incineration each year
- Over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 captured
- First SAF by 2031.ASTMD 7566 certified
- 135 million litres per year of SAF
- 1,500 long-haul flights from London to Sydney offset each year
Why here?
The site was chosen due to its industrial nature, a skilled local workforce and existing refinery infrastructure, including a direct pipeline to Manchester airport, which can be used to transport the SAF to aircraft.
The site also offers the opportunity to link into regional capture projects. This could involve capturing and storing the carbon emitted during the manufacture of SAF, reducing the overall net lifecycle carbon emissions of our fuel by up to 100% and thus creating a carbon- neutral jet fuel.
Benefits to the local community
- 1000+jobs created during construction
- 40% of the construction work force to come from within the local community
- 100+ full-time jobs created once operational
- Additional income for Cheshire West and Chester Council through business rates
- Supporting local SMEs through the supply chain
- Cementing the North West as a pioneer in SAF technology
The technology
Our process for producing SAF follows a non-HEFA-approved pathway and utilises a combination of proven technologies. These processes consist of waste processing to remove recyclables and inorganic materials, conversion of the waste into a synthetic gas or ‘syngas’ via three identical gasification trains (3X), syngas clean-up, fuel synthesis via the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, and upgrading and purifying the fuel produced into a final product.
This integrated process has been proven in the United States, with the world’s first commercial-scale SAF facility successfully producing low- carbon synthetic crude oil from waste in 2022, utilising a single-train gasification process.
This groundbreaking facility provided invaluable experience and insights into the reliability, operability, and performance of such advanced technology at a full commercial scale. The comprehensive operating data and practical knowledge accumulated during the operation of this facility have been systematically integrated in to the NorthPoint FEL-3 development (FEED), ensuring that the lessons learned are applied effectively.
Advanced Fuel Fund (AFF)
The UK Government has supported the development of the NorthPoint project through the Advanced Fuels Fund in both Window 1, which supported early-stage feasibility and engineering work, and Window 3, which focuses on advancing projects towards construction and commercial deployment. These awards reflect the strong government backing for NorthPoint’s role in delivering UK SAF production capacity, supporting the national SAF mandate, and contributing to net-zero targets through innovation, investment, and job creation.
Who we are
NorthPointe Energy Ltd has been established as a dedicated organisation to advance the NorthPoint Project, demonstrating our clear commitment to its successful development. With a focus on operational excellence, stakeholder collaboration, and sustainable practices, we are building on our strong foundation to maintain momentum and achieve each milestone. We remain committed to creating lasting value for our partners, stakeholders, and the wider community.
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
