Whitestone Aviation note Manchester before Heathrow or Gatwick?
In a new partnership with Fulcrum BioEnergy, supported by the UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Manchester Airport is set to become the UK’s first airport to have a direct supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with hopes that – by 2026 – 10% of the fuel being used for flights from Manchester will be sustainable. [1]
Fulcrum BioEnergy is a pioneer in making low-carbon and low-cost transportation fuels from household garbage and commercial waste which would have been in the landfill or incinerated otherwise.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Fulcrum and Manchester Airports Groups (MAG) – the owner of Manchester Airport, London Stansted, and East Midlands. Neil Robinson, Manchester Airport Group CSR and Airspace Change Directors said: “The introduction of Sustainable Aviation Fuel 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.” [1]
Additionally, the Managing Director of Fulcrum BioEnergy, Jeff Ovens, stated: “Our partnership with MAG as an airport operator will bridge airlines and fuel suppliers and make SAF accessible and more widespread within the sector. This collaboration will also support our ambition to cementing the North West as a centre for excellence for SAF in the UK, driving forward the Prime Minister’s 10 point plan for an industrial revolution.” [2]
Fulcrum is set to develop and produce SAF at Stanlow, Cheshire’s new waste to fuels biorefinery. The SAF will then be delivered directly from Stanlow to Manchester Airport via a pipeline. This new biorefinery will be called Fulcrum NorthPoint.
100 million litres of SAF is set to be produced by Fulcrum NorthPoint per year. This can be blended 50/50 with traditional jet fuel and can be used without having to modify the aircraft engines. [2]
Aircrafts using this fuel will have 70% less Carbon footprint. [2]
The SAF partnership is part of a project to support a sustainable recovery from the pandemic to promote green skills, said to generate 1,520 jobs across Manchester as well as 6,500 jobs across the UK. Kwarteng has stated, “This partnership is a huge leap forward for the long-term competitiveness of Britain’s aerospace sector, demonstrating how, by going green, industry can create jobs and help level up across the UK.” [2]
£180 million of support is backing the sustainable aviation fuel project along with an additional £3.9 billion to support low carbon aerospace innovation. [2]
In 2016, MAG became the first airport group in the UK to be certified as carbon neutral. Therefore, their partnership with Fulcrum is another step forward towards a more sustainable future for the airline industry with the potential for other airline groups to follow in MAG’s footsteps.
The CEO of Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade, has 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. [The announcement of the partnership between 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.” [1]
© 2021 Whitestone Chambers
[2] https://ukaviation.news/manchester-will-be-first-uk-airport-with-a-sustainable-jet-fuel-supply/