Consultation outcome

Mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK

From:
Department for Transport
Published
23 July 2021
Last updated
30 March 2023 — See all updates
This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Sustainable aviation fuels mandate: summary of consultation responses and government response

PDF, 728 KB, 98 pages

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Detail of outcome

We will introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate equivalent to at least 10% (around 1.5 billion litres) of jet fuel to be made from sustainable sources by 2030. Our response confirms:

  • the mandate will operate as a greenhouse gas emission reduction scheme with tradeable certificates
  • the mandate will apply to jet fuel suppliers and will begin in 2025, outside of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO)
  • eligible fuels will be waste-derived biofuels, recycled carbon fuels (making use of unrecyclable plastic and waste industrial gases) and power to liquid (PtL) fuels
  • SAF must meet strict sustainability criteria including making at least 50% greenhouse gas savings relative to fossil jet fuel
  • SAF derived from hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids will be capped and a PtL subtarget will be introduced to encourage the development of strategically important SAF pathways

The UK SAF mandate is intended to secure and grow UK SAF demand and complement our ongoing work to kick start a domestic SAF industry.

We will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to build long term SAF supply to help support the mandate.

A second UK sustainable aviation fuel mandate consultation was released on 30 March 2023.

Feedback received

Mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK: summary of responses

PDF, 538 KB, 64 pages

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Detail of feedback received

The summary of responses to the consultation on mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK has been published.

Original consultation

Summary

Proposes a UK sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) mandate requiring jet fuel suppliers to blend an increasing proportion of SAF into aviation fuel from 2025

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

Proposes the introduction of an obligation on fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint of jet fuel used in the UK, to be achieved through greater use of sustainable aviation fuels.

We are seeking comments on the:

  • need for a SAF mandate
  • high-level ambition and design of the proposed SAF mandate
  • fuel eligibility criteria
  • interactions between SAF and other domestic and international policy
  • compliance, reporting and verification principles that will steer the creation of the scheme

Documents

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) mandate consultation on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of aviation fuels in the UK

PDF, 1.49 MB, 78 pages

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Updates to this page

Published 23 July 2021
Last updated 30 March 2023 + show all updates

  1. Revised UK sustainable aviation fuel mandate consultation announcement added.

  2. Outcome released.

  3. The summary of responses has been published.

  4. First published.

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