Farnborough Airport has signed a groundbreaking deal that could make it a world leader in the field of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The premium air travel airport has partnered with Hydrogen Refinery for 12.5 million litres (10,000 tonnes) per annum of SAF produced locally from waste.

This deal positions Farnborough Airport at the forefront of sustainable aviation, reinforcing its role as a leader in SAF adoption.

Already one of the largest single-site suppliers of suatainable fuel to the business aviation sector, Farnborough Airport has sold over 2 million litres of 38 percent blended SAF since 2021.

Now, with new SAF mandates taking effect in the UK and European Union, the demand for domestically produced SAF is critical. The UK government requires a minimum SAF blend of 10 percent by 2030, yet limited production and investment threaten domestic supply.

Hydrogen Refinery’s technology enables the production of carbon-negative SAF from mixed waste products, including landfill materials, rather than traditional waste cooking oil or HEFA-based sources.

Farnborough Airport chief executive Simon Geere said:“We are delighted to be forging this ground-breaking alliance with e-fuels developer Hydrogen Refinery.

“Their patented technology could enable Farnborough Airport to become the first airport in the world to offer fuel with a 20 percent SAF blend across its entire supply by 2028—well ahead of the UK government’s 10 percent target.”

Mr Geere emphasised Farnborough’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, stating that the airport aims to be an “incubator for sustainable technologies” while playing a vital role in scaling up domestic SAF production.

“The transition to new fuelling technologies requires markets like ours, which can support the higher upfront investment costs necessary to make real progress. Farnborough Airport is uniquely positioned to advance SAF adoption, given the smaller, modern aircraft we handle and the high economic value of the flights we facilitate,” he said.

This latest announcement builds on Farnborough Airport’s other sustainability milestones. In 2024, it became one of only five UK airports—and the only business aviation airport—to achieve Level 4+ Carbon Accreditation from the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme.

That same year, it completed one of the largest lightweight solar installations in the South East, generating 25 percent of its own power.

Farnborough has consistently been a leader in SAF adoption. In 2022, it became the first airport in the world to offer SAF at the same price as standard Jet A1 fuel for a two-week trial during the Farnborough International Airshow.

A year earlier, it made SAF available to all customers, marking a major industry shift. The airport has also set one of the most ambitious net zero targets in aviation, committing to carbon neutrality by 2030 or sooner for emissions within its control.

Stephen Voller, chief executive of Hydrogen Refinery, highlighted the environmental benefits of the company’s innovative fuel production process.

He said: “We live in a throwaway society, and waste such as mixed plastics and municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to rise despite efforts towards recycling.

“Hydrogen Refinery has a unique process called the plasma electrolyser system (PES) that can process mixed waste, including airline passenger food waste, into SAF.

“This is not only a low-cost process but is also carbon negative because the waste is processed without the emissions from incineration or landfill. We are excited to be working with Farnborough Airport to make their vision of sustainability a reality”.