Exploring Sustainable Aviation Fuel opportunities in the East of England

London Stansted, in partnership with Cambridge Cleantech, has hosted a major roundtable event bringing together experts from the aviation, energy, and sustainability sectors to discuss how the East of England can play a key role in producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Held at the airport’s Radisson Blu Hotel, the event highlighted the region’s ability to become a hub for SAF innovation, helping the aviation industry become more sustainable while also benefiting the local economy.

The UK government has set a target for 22% of aviation fuel to come from sustainable sources by 2040, with SAF playing a major part in reaching that goal.

The discussions focused how the East of England can take advantage of its strengths and infrastructure to lead the way in SAF production and meet the growing demand for sustainable fuel options in aviation.

The event was kicked off by Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, and included speakers from Jet2, SSE, LanzaTech, and Innovate UK.

Opening the event, Gareth Powell said:

“We’re really excited to be hosting this important event and bringing people together to explore how the East of England can lead the way in SAF production. At London Stansted, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. SAF is a crucial part of our plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2038, 12 years ahead of the national target. The East of England has huge potential to not only help decarbonise aviation but also create thousands of green jobs in the process.”

The East of England is well-positioned to play a key role in the UK SAF industry, which could create £10.2 billion in economic value and support more than 60,000 green jobs by 2050.

London Stansted is already a leader in sustainability, having already achieved carbon neutrality and invested in renewable energy, including a new solar farm. The airport’s £1.1 billion investment plan will drive further growth while keeping sustainability at the forefront.

In March, Ryanair committed to purchasing 1,000 tonnes of SAF for flights to and from the airport, while Jet2 started using blended SAF during the summer 2024 season.