£1.5 million fuels green jet vision at Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds Bradford Airport is at the heart of a new £1.5 million government-backed study into producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), in a move that could pave the way for cleaner, greener flights from Yorkshire.

The funding, awarded by the Department for Transport, will support a detailed feasibility study into creating Power-to-Liquid SAF, a next-generation fuel made using renewable electricity and captured carbon, at or near the airport.

The study is being delivered through the NEXTGEN-SAF project, led by Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian OBE and his team at the University of Sheffield, in partnership with Leeds Bradford Airport and with support from academics at the University of Leeds.

The project was initiated by the University of Sheffield and is being supported by local MP Katie White, who has helped bring together industry, academic and regional partners.

Over the next eight months, the study will explore how this clean fuel – which can be used in today’s aircraft without changing engines or infrastructure – could possibly be produced and deployed at scale from a Yorkshire base. If successful, it could lead to major investment and job creation in the region, with the final report due in 2026.

Unlike biofuels, Power-to-Liquid SAF doesn’t rely on crops or waste. Instead, it uses renewable electricity to convert water and recycled carbon into a synthetic jet fuel with a much lower carbon footprint – a technology widely seen as key to decarbonising long-haul flights.

Katie White OBE, MP for Leeds North West, said: “Leeds is built for this kind of innovation. We have the talent, the ambition, and a track record of turning green innovation into real-world impact. This funding is a crucial step towards making sustainable jet fuel a reality at Leeds Bradford. It’s about cutting emissions in one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, and creating the skilled jobs and investment that come with it. I’m proud to see our region leading the way.”

Leading climate scientist Professor Piers Forster, former Chair of the Climate Change Committee, along with Jet2 and Leeds Bradford Airport, welcomed the move.

Professor Piers Forster, former Chair of the Climate Change Committee and Director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at the University of Leeds, said: “Aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise… current sustainable aviation fuels are made from waste fat or energy crops. They are not considered a long-term solution, as making our own would use more than 50% of UK farmland, which we need to grow our food. Instead, we will make a technological leap forward - generating fuels directly from renewable electricity, in a so-called "power to liquid approach.”

Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “We’re incredibly proud that LBA will be working in partnership with the team at the University of Sheffield on this groundbreaking project. This initiative will strengthen our shared goal of accelerating the UK’s efforts to meet its net-zero emissions targets by 2050. Investment in decarbonising aviation will benefit not only our local community but also contribute to the broader national effort towards sustainable air travel and a greener future. We can’t wait to get started.”

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “Developing new SAF technologies in the UK, will not only create hundreds of job opportunities, but is also a key part of the decarbonization path for aviation. We look forward to working with the University of Sheffield and Leeds Airport on this exciting and innovative project, and I’d like to thank Katie White for the energy and enthusiasm she has brought to this initiative.”

Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian OBE, Managing Director of the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, who is leading the project, said: “It is fantastic to see the University of Sheffield playing a leading role in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and supporting the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce its emissions. At Sheffield, we have some of the most advanced SAF research facilities in Europe and are excited to work with partners from the industry to help them test and develop new fuels and next-generation clean energy technologies.”