UK company wins grant to develop aviation biofuel from waste

In the UK, Renovare Fuels has been awarded support by Innovate UK for aviation fuel testing through the Sustainable Aviation for Clean Growth program. The company has developed a technology that converts waste into a biofuel that could replace traditional fossil fuels.

Fuel standards outlined by the British Ministry of Defense state that turbine-engine airplanes must use fuel that is compliant and certified to meet the ASTM D1655 standard. Renovare Fuels expects that, following the testing program with Innovate UK, the company’s fuel will be approved as a blending agent, suitable for use in commercial aircraft.

The program aims to identify any problem components in the fuel, so that adjustments to the process can be made to eliminate them. Support from Innovate UK has already begun, and the first stage of testing will commence next month. Both phases of the program are expected to be completed by January 31, 2019.

The company has already outlined plans to increase its fuel production output to produce 250 million liters annually by 2030. Working with Innovate UK should help the company expand its market and help more airlines confidently transition to sustainably sourced biofuels.