The UK’s Farnborough Airport has signed a letter of intent with Hydrogen Refinery—a local developer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—to purchase more than 3.3 million gallons (12.5 million liters) of SAF annually. London-area Farnborough is already one of the business aviation industry’s largest distributors of SAF. It has sold more than a half million gallons of the blended fuel since it began stocking continuous supplies in 2021.

Farnborough CEO Simon Geere believes the offtake agreement—which is based on future developments—will help kick-start the country’s domestic SAF refining sector. With the UK and EU SAF use mandates instituted at the beginning of this year, he noted the lack of domestic production and investment in companies could impact supplies in the UK. 

Hydrogen Refinery uses a microwave-induced plasma electrolysis system to break down wastes ranging from plastics to food scraps into synthesis gas, which can then be converted into synthetic fuels such as SAF.

“We are delighted to be forging this ground-breaking alliance with e-fuels developer Hydrogen Refinery,” Geere said. “Their patented technology has the potential to provide Farnborough Airport with enough proprietary supplies of SAF for us to become the first and only airport in the world to be offering fuel with a 20% blend across its entire supply by 2028, well ahead of the UK Government’s own target of 10% by 2030.”