Scottish airports back campaign to create eco-friendly jet fuel facilities at Grangemouth and St Fergus

Scotland’s biggest airports are backing a new campaign to create eco-friendly jet fuel facilities at Grangemouth and St Fergus, which could generate thousands of jobs.

Business leaders, trade unions, MSPs and councillors are being urged to sign the ‘Back British SAF’ (sustainable aviation fuels) pledge – which could provide a lifeline for thousands of workers throughout the country.

The Back British SAF pledge has been launched by Rise, a coalition group made up of the UK’s leading airlines, airports, engineers and producers, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen Airports.

The group has said that Scotland could become a world-leader in SAF production with proposed sites at Grangemouth, near Falkirk, and St Fergus in Aberdeenshire – and could boost the economy by £1.8bn by 2030 and create 60,000 jobs across the UK.

Petroineos bosses announced the closure of the oil refinery at Grangemouth last year, ending decades of the production of jet fuel from North Sea oil. Hundreds of jobs are expected to be lost in the process.

Grangemouth currently supplies all of Scotland’s jet fuel, and proposals to create a clean energy hub at the site called Project Willow would provide hundreds of jobs.

It comes as the Scottish Government delayed a just transition plan for the Grangemouth refinery until next spring – just months before the site is due to be closed.

What is SAF?

Sustainable aviation fuels (or SAF) are synthetic alternatives to fossil fuels, made from renewable sources, and can cut carbon emissions by 70%.

These can include waste cooking oils, vegetable fats and agricultural waste, as well as captured carbon dioxide.

New UK-wide rules are expected to require 10% of air travel is powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030.

Campaigners say SAF production sites would be a multi-million pound boost to the Scottish economy – but warn the UK Government needs to “act quickly” to secure vital investment.

Ministers are being urged to bring forward a promised Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill quickly to help secure funding for these projects.

New rules will see 10% of air travel powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. iStock

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, has said that converting Grangemouth into a SAF manufacturing plant is “imperative” for Scotland’s industrial future.

“We can create hundreds of skilled long-term jobs all whilst proving Britain’s booming aviation industry with a clearer flightpath to meeting its net zero commitments”, he said.

“The UK Government has proposed a price stability mechanism for the SAF industry. If we’re to ensure energy resilience and the global connectivity Scotland needs, then getting this passed must be a top priority, otherwise we risk losing out to other countries in the global race for SAF.”

The aviation industry is under pressure to find an alternative to jet fuel.

Supplies of SAF are currently minimal, but if usage is to increase, production will also need to be ramped up dramatically.

Andy Cliffe, chief executive of AGS Airports said that Scotland needs to “ensure it realises this opportunity”.

He said: “SAF is a critical component of the aviation industry’s net zero carbon road map which shows that 10,000 new jobs could be created in a UK SAF industry by 2030, rising to 60,000 jobs and £10bn of GVA by 2050.

“We need to ensure we realise this opportunity and that Scotland benefits from these jobs.

“If we don’t, we will be reliant on an import led strategy which will see jobs and investment in SAF production flow into Europe and the US, both of which are already stealing a march due to incentive schemes.

“In Scotland, we have an opportunity to produce SAF at Grangemouth and at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire.”

A Rise spokesman said: “The production of SAF is one of the fastest growing industries on the planet and demand will soon outstrip supply.

“The United States, the European Union and countries across the Middle East and Asia Pacific are all ahead of the field in bringing forward measures to attract SAF investors to their shores. We need to act now or risk losing out altogether.”