Deep fat flyer: transatlantic planes to run on cooking oil

THE age of guilt-free flying is to begin next year with the first transatlantic flight powered by cooking oil.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said he was issuing a “historic challenge” to the aviation industry to have the first net zero flight cross the Atlantic by the end of 2023.

This would mean a flight powered by 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from waste materials such as used cooking oils, domestic and commercial rubbish and flue gases.

“We must act now to ensure that flying, so crucial to global connectivity in our fast-paced world, can continue without defeating our ambitions for tackling climate change,” Mr Shapps wrote in an online article for The Daily Telegraph. “That’s why, as passenger demand and the aviation industry continue to rebound after the pandemic, we’re not just going back to pre-pandemic normal.

“Instead I am committed to building a world-leading sustainable aviation fuel industry in the UK, improving fuel security and delivering thousands of green jobs across the UK in the process.”

Experts estimate a UK SAF industry could support up to 5,200 jobs, as well as a further 13,600 through global exports with a turnover of £2.3 billion by 2040. Planes are currently restricted to 50 per cent SAF fuel, but scientists are developing a fuel that could enable planes to carry 100 per cent SAF which would reduce emissions by 70 per cent.

To achieve net zero they will have to come up with a way to decarbonise the remaining 30 per cent of emissions.

The Treasury has already provided £180 million to support new SAF plants.“we now need to turbocharge

production in order to build the initial three SAF plants by 2025,” said Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK.

Rolls-royce, which has already successfully tested its large commercial aero engines on 100 per cent SAF, said Mr Shapps’ proposal was an “exciting and ambitious challenge”.

Airlines are being invited to register their interest by June 12 this year with those chosen invited to submit a full application to win up to £1 million from the Government to support research.