Fuelling IP: UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel – Direction of Travel

Last month, the UK government released their third provisional report on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use covering all of 2025. It is clear that momentum for SAF is building – creating both opportunities and pressures for businesses and innovators in the energy sector.

Ahead of Target—But Still Early Days

Across 2025, just under 2.4% of all aviation fuel supplied in the UK was SAF, exceeding the government’s 2% target for the first year. For a policy still in its infancy (only formally launched in January 2025) this is both a remarkable milestone and incredibly encouraging, and demonstrates growing responsiveness from fuel suppliers. The SAF Mandate is the government’s main tool for decarbonising UK aviation and requires fuel suppliers to meet an increasing threshold over time. You can find the latest official statistics on the government website here: [gov.uk]

However, while the headline number shows progress, the underlying composition of the UK’s SAF market highlights both structural challenges and areas ripe for new technology.

HEFA Dominates—but Not for Long

All SAF supplied in 2025 was produced via the HEFA  (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) pathway – essentially, reprocessed used cooking oil. This mirrors recent warnings that current UK SAF supply is overly dependent on used cooking oil from Asia. The published stats show that 74% of UK supplied SAF had feedstocks originating from China, with only 16% being domestically sourced.

HEFA’s dominance is expected given its technical maturity, but its reliance on limited waste oils and on overseas supply chains raises questions around scalability, security, and sustainability certification. There simply isn’t any more of it easily or cheaply available, and no way to drastically increase supply. As the mandate ratchets upwards with 10% of all aviation fuel needing to be SAF by 2030, dependence on imported HEFA-derived SAF is going to have to change.

Power‑to‑Liquids Incoming: A Patent Landscape Set to Shift

Interestingly, the government stats highlight Power‑to‑Liquids (PtL) in their data tables, despite none of this being online yet. PtL are various synthetic fuels produced from green hydrogen and captured CO₂ and remains the UK’s most anticipated next‑generation SAF pathway, hence the extra government focus. With PtL scheduled for future implementation, its arrival could represent the most significant shift in UK aviation fuels since HEFA entered commercial use.

PtL’s technical profile aligns closely with areas seeing rapid patent growth worldwide: electrolysis systems, CO₂ capture, catalytic synthesis routes, and integration with variable renewable generation.

A Time for Strategic IP Investment

For fuel producers and technology developers, the data supports a simple message: the UK SAF market is going to have to transition away from HEFA‑constrained early compliance to a diverse range of SAF sources.

Firms exploring alternative feedstocks, advanced bio‑conversion routes, or PtL technologies should be reviewing their patent strategies. The IP advice isn’t new – protecting innovations early will be crucial as the sector scales and competition intensifies. With the number of approved SAF pathways limited, any edge on the competition will be critical. It’s going to be a huge change, but building a resilient, domestic SAF ecosystem in the UK is going to need a diverse array of technology.

This article was prepared by Patent Director Daniel Wolstenholme.