SCOTLAND’S biggest airports are backing a campaign to create eco-friendly jet fuel facilities at Grangemouth and Aberdeenshire, which could create thousands of new jobs.
Rise, a coalition between some of the UK’s leading airlines, airports and engineers, has launched a pledge to back Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in the UK and aims to lower air travel emissions while creating thousands of new jobs.
Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen airport bosses are among the backers of the campaign.
The aviation group said that Scotland could become a world-leader in SAF production with proposed sites at Grangemouth and St Fergus.
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Campaigners say SAF production sites could boost the Scottish economy by £1.8bn by 2030 while also creating thousands of new jobs in the industry.
Sustainable aviation fuels are synthetic alternatives to fossil fuels and are made from renewable sources like used cooking oils, vegetable fats and agricultural waste.
Campaigners for SAF say the renewable alternative fuel can cut carbon emissions by 70% with new UK-wide rules expected to require 10% of air travel to be powered by SAF by 2030.
Grangemouth currently supplies all of Scotland’s jet fuel, but the owners, Petroineos, announced the closure of the oil refinery by the second quarter of next year.
Earlier this week the Scottish Government delayed a just transition plan for the oil refinery until spring next year – which would be just months before the site is due to be closed with around 400 workers losing their jobs.
Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, has said that converting Grangemouth into a SAF manufacturing plant is “imperative” for Scotland’s industrial future.
He said: “We can create hundreds of skilled long-term jobs all whilst proving Britain’s booming aviation industry with a clearer flightpath to meeting its net zero commitments.
“The UK Government has proposed a price stability mechanism for the SAF industry. If we’re to ensure energy resilience and the global connectivity Scotland needs, then getting this passed must be a top priority, otherwise we risk losing out to other countries in the global race for SAF.”
The aviation industry is under pressure to find an alternative to jet fuel as supplies of SAF are currently minimal.
However, if usage is to increase as proposed, the production of SAF will need to be ramped up dramatically.
Campaigners have warned the UK Government needs to “act quickly” to secure vital investment for sustainable aviation fuel facilities in the UK.
Ministers are being urged to bring forward a promised Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill quickly to help secure funding for the proposed projects.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of AGS Airports said that Scotland needs to “ensure it realises this opportunity”.
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He added: “SAF is a critical component of the aviation industry’s net zero carbon road map which shows that 10,000 new jobs could be created in a UK SAF industry by 2030, rising to 60,000 jobs and £10bn of GVA by 2050.
“We need to ensure we realise this opportunity and that Scotland benefits from these jobs.
“If we don’t, we will be reliant on an import led strategy which will see jobs and investment in SAF production flow into Europe and the US, both of which are already stealing a march due to incentive schemes.
“In Scotland, we have an opportunity to produce SAF at Grangemouth and at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire.”
A Rise spokesperson said: “The production of SAF is one of the fastest growing industries on the planet and demand will soon outstrip supply.
“The United States, the European Union and countries across the Middle East and Asia Pacific are all ahead of the field in bringing forward measures to attract SAF investors to their shores. We need to act now or risk losing out altogether.”
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