LONDON — Exolum, Europe’s leading energy logistics company, has announced a £4.5 million investment to create the UK’s first independent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending facility at Redcliffe Bay in south-west England. The move forms part of plans to establish a UK-wide network of SAF blending hubs, designed to support greener aviation across the country.
SAF is a ‘drop-in’ biofuel that can be blended with conventional aviation fuel and used in aircraft without modification, reducing the carbon emissions of flights. By integrating SAF into Exolum’s 2,000km national aviation fuel pipeline network, the Redcliffe Bay facility will supply airports across southern England and Wales, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff.
Stephen Land, Exolum North West Europe Lead, commented: “Exolum’s investment at Redcliffe Bay is turning the UK’s ambitions for greener flights into reality, whilst helping secure the country’s world-leading position at the forefront of global sustainable aviation. The UK’s twin commitments to airport expansion and to increasing SAF supplies have been crucial in ensuring that, and we’re looking forward to not only supporting greener aviation but also the growth of the UK’s sustainable fuels industry.”
The facility is expected to be operational from 2026 and will support the greening of up to 64,741 flights per year — equivalent to London–New York services — by blending SAF with conventional aviation fuel. Unblended SAF will initially be delivered to Bristol’s Royal Portbury Dock by ship before transport via pipeline to Redcliffe Bay for storage, blending, and distribution.
The project includes upgrades to existing infrastructure, including SAF-compatible storage tanks, state-of-the-art blending systems, pumps, filtration systems, and segregation valves to ensure the correct technical standards and integration into the national pipeline network.
UK Department for Transport Aviation Minister, Keir Mather MP, noted: “I’m excited to see the rollout of Exolum’s SAF network, which will help support regional jobs across the country and is another major vote of confidence in our SAF policies including the SAF Bill, which is back in Parliament for its third reading.”
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees added: “It’s fantastic to see this investment in our region, with blending facilities being a vital part of the future SAF supply chain that we need to decarbonise aviation. We’ve committed to working with our airline customers to meet the UK’s SAF mandate as part of our aim to be a net zero airport by 2050.”
Exolum’s Redcliffe Bay facility is the first step towards a SAF ‘Superhighway’ linking delivery hubs across the UK to meet growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel and enable long-term green investment in SAF production plants across the country.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: EXOLUM
