The UK’s first independent SAF blending facility

Exolum has announced its decision to invest £4.5 million in establishing the UK’s first stand-alone sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending facility at Redcliffe Bay in southwest England, as part of new plans for a wider network of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending centers UK-wide.

The announcement comes as the UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Bill, which provides new support for Sudanese Air Force production, advances to its next stage in Parliament. SAF is a biofuel that is blended with conventional aviation fuel and used in aircraft without modification to reduce carbon emissions from aviation.

By integrating customers’ SAF into Exolum’s national aviation fuel pipeline network, this investment will boost the supply of green aviation fuel to airports across southern England and Wales, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff.

The company also announces that the facility will be the first of a new UK-wide network of SAF blending centers it plans as part of a 2,000km pipeline network, creating a SAF Expressway that will provide SAF producers and importers with market access to jet fuel for 40% of flights departing UK airports.

Expected to be operational from 2026, the initial investment in Redcliffe Bay will support the greening of the equivalent of up to 64,741 flights from London to New York annually, supporting the UK’s position as a global leader in green aviation.

These plans will enable long-term green investment in SAF production plants across the UK and, in the case of Redcliffe Bay, south-west England and south Wales, by providing a decisive, independent route to market when they become operational, which is expected later this decade.

The unmixed SAF will initially be delivered by ship to Royal Portbury Dock in Bristol, before being transported to Exolum’s Redcliffe Bay site via pipeline. It will then be stored and blended on-site with conventional aviation fuel, to create a “ready-to-use” fuel that will then be distributed by Exolum’s national pipeline system.

The project includes several infrastructure upgrades to Exolum’s existing jet fuel pipeline storage and pumping station at Redcliffe Bay, on the banks of the Severn Estuary near Bristol. Plans include:

• Conversion of existing aviation fuel storage tanks to handle SAF, before blending with conventional aviation fuel.
• Inside the existing tanks, a modern SAF blending infrastructure will be installed, which will ensure that the SAF is blended with conventional aviation fuel according to the correct technical standards.
• Modifying existing systems by installing new pumps, filtration systems and separation valves to circulate SAF between storage tanks and pump it into the pipeline network.

“Exolum’s investment in Redcliffe Bay turns the UK’s ambitions for greener air travel into reality, while helping to secure the country’s world-leading position at the forefront of global sustainable aviation,” says Stephen Land, Exolum’s North West Europe leader.

“The UK’s dual commitments to expanding airports and increasing SAF supplies have been crucial in ensuring this, and we look forward to supporting not only green aviation but also the growth of the UK’s sustainable fuels industry.”

UK Department for Transport and Aviation Secretary Keir Mather MP says: “I’m excited to see the launch of Exolum’s SAF network, which will help support regional jobs across the country, and is another major vote of confidence in our SAF policies including the SAF Bill, which has once again returned to

Parliament for its third reading.

“We are investing £63 million to support local SAF production, which, combined with our mission to increase the supply of SAF in jet fuel for UK flights, will boost demand for green fuel and support UK jobs.”

Sadiq Al Hassan, MP, Sustainable Aviation Champion and Member of Parliament for North Somerset, says: “Exolum’s £4.5m investment in their Redcliffe Bay facility represents a major boost for North Somerset, helping to support new technical jobs across the sustainable aviation supply chain in southwest England, while strengthening the UK’s leadership in green aviation.

“Their vision of a sustainable aviation fuel ‘highway’ connects delivery centers to places where green fuel is needed most across the country, making the region even more attractive for green investment in sustainable fuel production. It is a clear signal that the green transition is not only possible, but here too.”

Dave Lees, chief executive of Bristol Airport, says: “It is great to see this investment in our region, as blending facilities are a vital part of the future SAF supply chain we need to decarbonise aviation. We are committed to working with our airline customers to meet the UK SAF mandate as part of our goal to become a net-zero carbon airport by Year 2050.”