Jet , set , take-off - The LGF project will significantly enhance the UK ’ s energy independence by establishing a domestic source of alternative jet fuel .
THE JET FUEL FOR
NET ZERO
Europe ’ s largest advanced second generation SAF facility to be built in Teesside
Control centre – the LGF project will make Teesside a leader in sustainable aviation fuel . Pictured are operators Leighton Abbott and Kyle Kirton .
Teesside is poised to become a leader in sustainable aviation fuel ( SAF ) production with the announced Lighthouse Green Fuels ( LGF ) project in Stockton-on-Tees .
Developed by Alfanar , a global renewables , engineering and construction group headquartered in Saudi Arabia , LGF aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of the aviation sector .
WHAT IS SAF ? HOW IS IT MADE ? SAF is a key component in the global pursuit of a greener aviation sector . It is a “ drop-in ” fuel that can be used in today ’ s aircraft engines with only minor modifications . SAF is the only viable solution for decarbonising flights up to 2050 .
Aviation ’ s year-on-year emissions have been growing significantly faster than those of other transport sectors , UK aviation specifically contributes eight per cent of collective UK emissions . The sector needs to decarbonise to ensure we retain the economic and social benefits of flying .
SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by 80 per cent compared to traditional jet fuel . This significant reduction is achieved through the use of biogenic feedstocks and advanced technologies to produce the fuel . SAF can be produced from a variety of renewable sources , including biomass , household or municipal solid waste , used cooking oil , algae or animal fats and it is already being produced commercially and used to fuel flights globally . Key technology breakdown : LGF will take and process waste materials that would otherwise end up in landfills or be incinerated . These processes contribute to generating greenhouse gas emissions and result in air pollution .
First , LGF will process the waste biomass materials to produce homogeneous feedstock for the LGF SAF process .
Next , these feedstocks are subjected to very high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment in a process called gasification . This process breaks down the feedstock into a mixture of gases , mainly carbon monoxide ( CO ), hydrogen ( H₂ ) and carbon dioxide ( CO2 ). This mixture is called synthetic gas , or ‘ syngas ’.
Crude syngas leaving the gasification process is cleaned before being sent to the Fischer-Tropsch ( FT ) unit . The FT process is a catalytic process which converts the syngas into liquid hydrocarbons , which serve as the foundational components for fuels such as diesel and jet fuel . The FT reaction involves linking small gas molecules together to form larger , liquid molecules suitable for use as fuel . The refined synthetic fuel is then blended with conventional jet fuel and used in aircrafts .
Full process animation can be viewed at lighthousegreenfuels . co . uk
KEY FACTS – THE PATH TO NET ZERO Due to its size , the facility will establish a national and international supply chain by procuring feedstock , such as non-recyclable waste , waste wood and forest residues from various regions across the UK and beyond .
This strategic sourcing approach ensures a robust and widespread supply network for the plant . More than one million tonnes per
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