Johnson Matthey plc (JM) has announced that Willis Sustainable Fuels (WSF) has chosen JM and bp for their Fischer Tropsch (FT) CANS technology. This award-winning technology will be used in WSF’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in Teesside, Northeast England.

The project should start operations in 2028. It aims to be the first of its kind in the UK. The facility plans to use biomethane. This feedstock will be processed into syngas. JM’s reforming technology will handle this. The syngas will then feed the JM/bp FT CANS technology. This will produce synthetic crude oil. The oil can be upgraded. It can also be blended to create SAF.

Once operational, the WSF facility has plans. It will produce 14 thousand tonnes of SAF blendstock each year. Teesside is becoming an active location. This is for SAF production in the UK. Teesside International Airport has its own net zero strategy. The strategy sets ambitions. The airport wants to use SAF for net zero flights by 2035. It aims to be the UK’s first net-zero airport.

WSF’s planned development received funding. This funding came from round two of the Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuels Fund. The project was one of five in Teesside to receive this funding. The fund supports the commercial deployment of fuel production technologies. These technologies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The reduction will be from the UK aviation industry.

Alberto Giovanzana is a Managing Director at Johnson Matthey. He expressed excitement. He noted that JM is a UK-headquartered company. He is pleased their technology was chosen. It will be part of this innovative UK project. JM has FT CANS development and testing facilities in Teesside. With projects like this in development, the North East appears to be a leader. This leadership is in efforts to meet the UK SAF mandate. He looks forward to working with Willis Sustainable Fuels. The goal is to develop SAF in the region. This collaboration may extend beyond.

Amy Ruddock is a Senior Vice President at Willis Lease Finance Corporation. This is the parent company of WSF. She commented on the partnership. She stated that partnering with Johnson Matthey and other industry leaders is important. It enables meaningful progress. This progress is toward their vision. The vision is connecting the world through sustainable flight.

The project will demonstrate the potential of their Carbonshift pathway. This pathway can use various sustainable feedstocks. It can be tailored to produce power-to-liquids. This will help shape the future of aviation fuels.