The University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), home to the IFRF and our primary Preferred Research Partner, has been awarded UK government funding to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Announced by the Aviation Minister, Mike Kane MP, during a recent visit to the EIC, University of Sheffield will lead a £1.5 million project to commercialise its new SAF production technology and attract investors to build SAF production plants in order to boost the supply of the cleaner fuel to the aviation industry.

It is one of 17 projects awarded a total of £63m funding under Round 3 of The Advanced Fuel Fund competition which provides grant funding to first-of-a-kind commercial and demonstration-scale projects in the UK.  

The project entitled NextGen-SAF will be delivered by a consortium, including Fuel Cell Energy (US), Green Lizard Technologies (UK), Drax Power (UK), IMI Vivo (Italy), Gardner Consulting (UK), and Leeds Bradford Airport (UK), with letters of support from Airbus, Boeing, City of Doncaster Council and Qatar Airways.

SAF is typically produced using bio or waste feedstock. However, there are concerns over whether a sufficient level of feedstock is possible to establish and maintain. The University of Sheffield’s new Power-to-Liquid production pathway eliminates this reliance as it can produce SAF using a combination of renewable energy sources and next generation carbon capture technology.

NextGen-SAF aims to build a world first demonstration plant combining two innovative technologies to produce SAF – a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) and an Advanced Fischer-Tropsch (AFT) reactor. The fuel cell can generate hydrogen and capture CO2 and the reactor converts the mixture into the synthetic hydrocarbons that are then refined into SAF. The plant will demonstrate the operability, reliability and performance of the integrated system ready for scale-up to commercial production. 

The University of Sheffield is one of the world’s leading universities for sustainable aviation fuel R&D. Its EIC is home to some of the most advanced clean energy research facilities in Europe, which include pilot scale testing facilities that enable academics and businesses to collaborate to test new clean energy technologies, including sustainable aviation fuel, before scaling up and commercialising.  The University hosts the UK SAF Clearing House – one of only two centres in the world – that support fuel producers in obtaining the certification needed for use in the aviation industry.

Sheffield was also part of a consortium that delivered the world’s first transatlantic flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel. Researchers from the University analysed the impact of SAF on the flight’s particulate emissions and contrail formation using the unique SAF research facilities at the EIC. The results demonstrated up to 70% reduction in emission levels.

Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Managing Director of the EIC and General Secretary of the IFRF said: “It is fantastic to see the University of Sheffield playing a leading role in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and supporting the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce its emissions. At Sheffield we have some of the most advanced SAF research facilities in Europe and are excited to work with partners from the industry to help them test and develop new fuels and next generation clean energy technologies.”