UK unveils new legislation to boost SAF
May 16, 2025
The UK has introduced new legislation aimed at accelerating the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Announced in Parliament this week, the measures are designed to cement Britain’s place as a leader in the production of SAF.
Aviation Minister Mike Kane described the policy as a “take off” moment for sustainable flight, hailing the new regulations as central to a wider push to decarbonise the sector.
“I want to see a golden age for green aviation and today sees take off for sustainable flights,” he said. “We are making the UK one of the best places in the world to produce sustainable aviation fuel, putting the pedal down on growth and boosting job opportunities across the country as part of the Plan for Change.”
Underpinning the package is a revenue certainty mechanism (RCM), funded by a levy on aviation fuel suppliers, which will provide price stability for SAF producers while capping the impact on ticket prices to an average of £1.50 per year. This gives fuel developers the confidence to scale up operations without passing significant costs.
Some £400,000 in new government funding has been earmarked to fast-track the certification and market readiness of new SAF technologies. This follows £63 million allocated earlier this year via the Advanced Fuels Fund.
The legislation also supports compliance with the UK’s SAF Mandate, which requires 10% of jet fuel used on UK flights to be sustainable by 2030, rising to 22% by 2040.
Industry figures have welcomed the move. Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said: “This is a welcome announcement given the importance of the RCM to commercialising and scaling-up SAF production in the UK, a technology key to decarbonising aviation by 2050.”
Duncan McCourt, CEO of Sustainable Aviation, added: “We hugely welcome the publication of this important legislation. SAF is a crucial element in the plan to decarbonise aviation… this legislation will help to do that.”
