1st May saw the launch of a new UK-China collaboration to develop sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) from waste cooking oils, at an event which included representatives from academia, industry and finance. The collaboration aims to develop efficient and affordable scaled-up production facilities in China within two years, bringing together the cutting-edge technology of the UK with the rapid scalability and commercialisation opportunities of China.

China is the world’s largest producer of waste cooking oils, which are currently largely exported with a considerable carbon footprint. The hydrogenated esters and fatty acid (HEFA) method can convert cooking oils to certified sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Other methods of developing SAFs include Fischer-Tropsch and other synthetic pathways. However, commercially large-scale implementation of HEFA conversion of waste oil has yet to be realised in China. Therefore, the project will prioritise HEFA in the near term, followed by Fischer-Tropsch and other synthetic pathways.

Raymond Tung, project leader and CEO of Union Energy, said: “This exciting collaboration will help us to deliver on the UK-China shared interest in achieving Net Zero. Sustainable aviation fuels can help to reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% when compared with traditional jet fuel.” 

A key goal of the project will be to introduce a sustainable Sino-foreign certification system for SAFs in China, which is essential for ensuring their sustainability and quality. The project will also establish a large-scale and efficient collection system for waste cooking oils across different regions in China.

Professor David Aldridge from Cambridge University, who is helping to build the project plan, added, “This project is a fantastic example of how creative thinking, and novel technologies can be embraced to re-purpose wastes into something new and beneficial. The beauty of the sustainable aviation fuels produced is that there will be no need to redesign aircraft or airport infrastructure, making this approach highly attractive to the aviation industry with a rapid route to market.”

With the annual worldwide demand for sustainable aviation fuels projected to be 30 million tonnes by the year 2023 and surpass 500 million tonnes by 2050, developing the most sustainable aviation fuels is critical.

The launch event, held in Edinburgh, was a testament to the widespread support for this initiative. It was supported by Scottish Development International (SDI) and the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Representatives from SDI, along with Trevor Lewis, Deputy Director of Innovation, and Industry at DBT and Commercial Consul at the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou, were present to address the event. The event also welcomed representatives from China Southern Airlines and China National Aviation Fuel Group, as well as esteemed academic representatives from Oxford University, Cambridge University, and members of ScotChem, underscoring their invaluable contributions to this project.

Trevor Lewis from DBT emphasized, “The aviation sector is striving to develop greener, more sustainable approaches to its activities. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has committed to achieving Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050 and sustainable aviation fuel has an especially important place in meeting this ambition. We are pleased to be part of this forum and look forward to seeing how the project progresses.”