Willis Sustainable Fuels gets green light for SAF plant in UK

Willis Sustainable Fuels, a subsidiary of Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC), has received approval to build a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery at Teesworks in Tees Valley, England.

“We’re thrilled to have the project approved,” said Austin Willis, CEO, WLFC. “This is a pivotal step in our commitment to reducing emissions in the aviation sector. We look forward to working with our partners at Teesworks to make this a reality and bolster the UK’s SAF production capabilities.”

The Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council granted planning permission for the Carbonshift PtL SAF refinery project.

The refinery is expected to produce 14 kilotons (roughly 5m gallons) of power-to-liquid (PtL) SAF annually upon completion.

This project aligns with the UK government’s goal of five commercial-scale SAF plants under construction by 2025. To support this endeavour, the refinery project also received a £4.721 million grant from the UK Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund.

This project is a positive development for the environment and the aviation industry. The use of SAF can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional jet fuel, contributing to a more sustainable future for air travel.