The SAF Podcast

• The SAF Podcast with Robert Courts: Pulling back the curtain on UK policy development

  In this episode of The SAF Podcast, we go behind the curtain of UK sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) policy with former Aviation Minister and former Member of Parliament for the UK Robert Courts. Listeners will gain a rare glimpse into the complexities of government policymaking—from managing cross-departmental collaboration and limited civil service bandwidth to ensuring stakeholder engagement and long-term adaptability.Courts candidly addresses industry concerns about implementation timelines, revealing the unavoidable bandwidth limitations within government and the necessity of thorough consultation. He takes us through the formation of the Jet Zero Council (now Task Force), explaining how it transformed the government-industry relationship from policy being "done to" industry to being developed "with" industry. We also discuss the Green Fuels Green Skies competition which paved the way for the Advanced Fuel Fund which has given grants to numerous leading SAF production technology developers in the UK. This collaborative approach has survived changes in government precisely because sustainable aviation enjoys broad cross-party support.You can also find out about the process of developing policy, exemplified by the development of the Revenue Certainty Mechanism. We look at the pros and cons of this long process and actually discuss why these processes are in place. We finish by looking at the big challenges in developing the infrastructure for domestic SAF production as well as what policy makers wish industry understood more about the policy making process. Make sure you check this episode out to get behind the process of policy development and why policy takes the shape it does. Find out previous episode where we looked at the investment landscape in the UK and where investment is going here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2202964/episodes/16944093

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• The SAF Podcast: Innovate UK Business Connect: Connecting SAF's dot to dot

   In this episode of The SAF Podcast, Oscar sits down with Michelle Carter, Head of Transport at Innovate UK Business Connect, to explore the current state and future trajectory of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK. With over a decade of experience in SAF, Michelle offers a unique lens into the evolution of the UK’s SAF ecosystem—from early-stage innovation to national mandates and public awareness. The conversation delves into the UK's position in the global SAF market, revealing that the country attracts just over 1% of global SAF investment, with a surprising 29% focused on power-to-liquid technology. Even more revealing is that domestic investment remains strikingly low compared to foreign capital pouring in from Europe and the United States. Michelle discusses the critical role of the UK SAF Clearing House in helping innovative technologies navigate regulatory landscapes and the importance of domestic versus imported production.The episode highlights interesting contrasts between UK and international investment patterns, particularly examining Spain's success with operational SAF facilities. Michelle explains how government policies like the SAF mandate and renewable certainty mechanism aim to stimulate growth in domestic production, targeting 2% sustainable jet fuel by 2025 and 10% by 2030.The conversation also covers international comparisons, such as Spain’s refinery-led approach, and why the UK still imports most of its SAF. We delve into public perception, noting that 70% of UK adults still don’t know what SAF is—highlighting the critical role of airlines, airports, and producers in improving consumer education. The regional variations in understanding—particularly how Wales demonstrated superior knowledge about waste-gas pathways due to local industry initiatives—highlight both the challenges and opportunities in consumer education. As Michelle notes, "If you communicate with the right narrative, people get it and they understand it."Whether you are a UK local or from another geography, understanding the challenges and work being done in the UK, and across the globe is critical to decarbonise aviation globally. You can find both reports referred to in our discussion here: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/knowledge-centre/perspectives/?_sft_sector=transportCheck out our previous conversation with Mac Irvine, Jet Zero Australia here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2202964/episodes/16017375

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• The SAF Podcast: Aether Fuels - Pulling SAF out of thin air

  Connor Madigan, founder of Aether Fuels, joins Oscar on this week's episode of The SAF Podcast.  Madigan shares his journey from founding a successful OLED manufacturing equipment company to pioneering a transformative approach to SAF technology through Aether's Aurora solution. At the heart of our conversation is Aether Fuels'  Aurora technology, developed with GTI Energy, which reimagines the traditional Fischer-Tropsch process for sustainable fuel production. By focusing on the syngas generation and upgrading steps, their system achieves up to 50% capital cost reduction and 20% higher yields than conventional approaches. Conor expertly breaks down how their "tri-conversion" reactor and innovative catalysts simplify production while maximizing carbon utilisation.We also explore the evolving landscape of SAF offtake agreements, where Conor provides valuable insights into the tension between investors requiring long-term contracts and airlines traditionally accustomed to shorter fuel purchasing timeframes. His perspective on how creative deal structures are emerging to balance risk and opportunity illuminates a critical aspect of scaling sustainable fuels.Madigan also provides a nuanced perspective on strategic investor selection, highlighting the importance of partners who bring deep market understanding beyond pure capital. We also look at how this is managed against a backdrop of higher policy uncertainty and how to adapt to work with less policy certainty.If you enjoyed this episode check out our previous discussion with Mukund Karanjikar, CleanJoule: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2202964/episodes/15427620

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• The SAF Podcast: EasyJet - The not-so-easy path the Net Zero

   In this episode of The SAF Podcast, host Oscar is joined by Lahiru Ranasinghe, Director of Sustainability at EasyJet, to explore the airline’s journey toward net zero. With aviation’s decarbonization at the forefront of industry discussions, Lahiru outlines EasyJet’s three-pronged strategy—Reduce, Replace, Remove—which balances efficiency improvements, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, and long-term hydrogen integration.  Discover how EasyJet is navigating the complex SAF landscape by strategically securing supply agreements across Europe to meet regulatory mandates while exploring voluntary market opportunities. Lahiru provides candid insights into the airline's SAF procurement strategy, highlighting recent partnerships with producers like ENI in Italy and Moeve in Spain. Whilst acknowledging that airlines "can't optimize their way to zero."The conversation tackles the SAF green premium head-on - sustainable aviation fuel costs 2-7 times more than conventional jet fuel, yet EasyJet operates with razor-thin margins of just £6.10 profit per seat. This creates a fundamental tension for an airline committed to democratizing air travel. Their pragmatic solution? Focus first on securing SAF partnerships across Europe to meet regulatory mandates while exploring innovative approaches like corporate SAF certificates that allow business customers to address their Scope 3 emissions.Ranasinghe also gives a candid assessment of the "first-mover disadvantage" in long-term SAF agreements. With future production likely to become more efficient and less expensive, airlines that lock in decade-long contracts today risk putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage tomorrow. This chicken-and-egg problem requires creative solutions like Project SkyPower's proposed market intermediary to bridge the gap between producers' need for certainty and airlines' commercial realities. We also dive into EasyJet’s hydrogen ambitions, discussing Airbus' timeline delays, the impact on fleet planning, and how hydrogen-powered aircraft could revolutionize short-haul travel by 2040. Plus, we examine the financial realities of SAF adoption, carbon pricing under EU ETS, and whether passengers are willing to pay a green premium. You might have noticed a trend for Project Skypower over recent episodes and the work they are doing developing EFuel policy infrastructure, which you can find out more here: https://project-skypower.org/If you enjoyed this episode, check out our previous episode with Jonathan Pardoe, Star Alliance here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2202964/episodes/13933438

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• The SAF Podcast: Neste - The importance of being flexible and nimble

  In this episode of The SAF Podcast, Alex Kueper, VP of Renewable Aviation at Neste, the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)joins Oscar. As the industry pushes towards net-zero emissions by 2050, Alex provides a deep dive into Neste’s expansion, the evolving market landscape, and the key challenges shaping the future of SAF. What began as Finland's post-WWII oil refiner evolved into a renewable energy leader that placed billion-dollar bets on sustainable fuels long before mandates or incentives existed. This wasn't profit-driven speculation – it was purposeful innovation rooted in environmental stewardship. The conversation explores Neste's significant production capacity expansion in Singapore and Rotterdam, and how the company quadrupled its SAF sales between 2023-2024 despite market challenges. Neste’s partnerships with major customers such as Air Canada and DHL are another key topic, showcasing the importance of long-term agreements in driving SAF adoption.  He also discusses the growing role of mandates and incentives, including the impact of RefuelEU Aviation, the evolving U.S. tax credit landscape, and how policy support will determine the industry’s trajectory.  With governments, airlines, and corporate buyers navigating shifting regulations and cost structures, this episode offers essential insights for industry professionals looking to stay ahead of the SAF transition. If you enjoyed this discussion, check out our previous episode with CR Sincock, Avfuel: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2202964/episodes/16057604

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