Carbon Neutral Fuels (CNF) is a company with an ambitious vision for the future: a globalised, interconnected world where worries about greenhouse gas emissions are a distant memory. They plan to make this happen by developing a first of a kind Power to Liquid (PtL) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility in the UK. Read on to find out how the team at Innovative Energy Consultants (IEC) were able to help them power this innovation.
CNF’s production facility will use renewable power to electrolyse water to create hydrogen and combine this with carbon dioxide using a Fischer-Tropsch process to synthesise jet fuel with upwards of 65% fewer emissions than conventional fossil-derived kerosene. The International Energy Association estimates that aviation accounts for 2% of emissions globally and predicts a rapid uptick unless innovators like CNF can usher in a new age of low emissions flight.
Governments around the world, including the UK’s, are implementing policies to support the development and uptake of SAF. The UK’s Department for Transport has a carrot and stick approach. The stick is that from 2028 fuel suppliers will be legally mandated to supply SAF and will face financial penalties if they fail to do so. The carrot is grant funding for first of a kind SAF production facilities; CNF is one of thirteen companies in the UK to be awarded funding from the Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund.
In order for synthetic kerosene to be considered SAF, it needs to be made using renewable power. The criteria for deciding whether power used to produce synthetic jet fuel is truly renewable will be written into law as part of the upcoming SAF mandate. It is expected to be similar to the criteria set for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin in January 2024.
In addition to understanding the constraints, CNF needed to understand how they could contract qualifying renewable power. We were able to help with both.
We provided CNF with a summary of anticipated regulatory constraints, the UK energy market and renewable power procurement mechanisms available in the UK. We covered everything from pay as produced PPAs, REGOs and direct wires to regionality and additionality in an interactive presentation. We then handed over a detailed report to ensure seamless transfer of knowledge and ease of reference.
“Working with Eleanor and her talented team at IEC has been a dream! The quality of work is exceptional, as is their extensive knowledge of energy markets and UK policy." ~ Sophie Zienkiewicz, Co-founder of CNF
We are extremely proud that IEC will continue to support CNF as they develop their first of a kind SAF production facility. You can follow IEC and CNF on LinkedIn or email info@innovative-energy.org to subscribe to IEC’s quarterly newsletter to be the first to hear how this project progresses.
For help navigating regulations impacting your business or more information on energy markets and how to procure renewable energy, contact us.
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