Setback For Green Aviation Fuel Production Net Zero Targets
Airplane and biofuel tank trailer

The path to finding a clean alternative to high carbon aviation fuel  will not be a straightforward one, a new report has warned. The Environment Journal reports that scientists from the Royal Society have concluded that the widespread introduction of green aviation fuels is not a realistic prospect in the near future.

The UK government has launched a Jet Zero strategy to develop a framework for achieving net zero aviation by the year 2050. However, reaching this target will involve developing viable Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) that can be produced affordably and in enough volume to supply demand.

Although biofuels are already in use by several airlines, the Royal Society report states that these currently still produce some CO2. The scientists have also said that to produce enough biofuel to replace fossil based aviation fuels, up to half of the UK’s arable land would be taken up to grow biomass crops.

According to the report, there is no one obvious path to clean aviation fuel. It identifies four potential sources of SAF: biofuel, hydrogen, synthetic efuels and ammonia. However, all of these options have disadvantages and the UK is not in a position to move forward rapidly with any of them. 

Battery power as a viable alternative to power aircraft was ruled out by the report’s authors, because they consider them unlikely to be powerful enough to sustain commercial passenger flights, at least by the year 2050. 

Professor Graham Hutchings, chair of the report’s working group, said: “The requirements for an alternative to jet fuel, to kerosene, is energy density, has to be sufficient to sustain short and long haul flights, it must be produced globally at scale, it must be cost-competitive and it must be implementable by 2050.” 

A Department for Transport spokesperson said its SAF programme was comprehensive and competitive, commenting: “Our Jet Zero Strategy sets out how we can achieve net zero emissions from UK aviation by 2050, without directly limiting demand for aviation.”

They added: “Sustainable Aviation Fuels and hydrogen are key elements of this, and we will ensure that there is no impact on food crops.”

Currently the UK imports a high volume of raw material for biofuel from China, Sky News reports. One of the main sources is used cooking oil, with 423 million litres imported during 2021. Other sustainable biofuel sources include rapeseed, miscanthus, and fast-growing poplar trees. 

A spokesperson for Airlines UK, the industry’s trade body, said “there is no magic bullet”, adding: “But by modernising airspace to make flying more efficient, by introducing new zero-emission technology like hydrogen aircraft and by upscaling the use of sustainable aviation fuels this decade, it can be achieved.”

In 2019, domestic and international flights accounted for around 8% of UK Co2 emissions. This figure dipped when international travel was severely restricted during the pandemic, but the government believes that passenger numbers could soar by as much as 70% by the year 2050. 

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MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.