Exolum pipeline to deliver SAF to Heathrow Airport

Exolum has announced that it is to pipe sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into London’s Heathrow Airport.

The Spanish-owned group has 68 storage terminals in eight countries, more than 6,000 km of pipelines and provides facilities at 45 airports. In the UK it has 24 liquid fuel storage terminals, holding up to 2.5mn m³, and a 2,000 km pipeline network.

Ignacio Casajús López, North West Europe lead for the group, says: ‘The new developments flow from our long-term agreements with Jet A-1 fuel marketers to pump jet fuel to Heathrow Airport, the UK’s biggest airport, and one of the busiest in the European area. Exolum pipelines are accepting SAF into their UK terminals, and doing so in the safest and most sustainable manner to the airport, avoiding the need for any road or rail transport.'

He continues: ‘We believe that SAF is an important element in the drive to reduce global carbon emissions.’

Casajús López says the use of pipelines to deliver SAF should also be viewed as a significant step towards meeting the UK government’s Jet Zero Council ambitions to deliver new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.

SAF is chemically similar to traditional fuel but is produced from sustainable feedstocks and is claimed to cut carbon emissions from aircraft engines by up to 80%. It can be blended up to 50% with traditional jet fuel. The blended product is safe for all aircraft certified for Jet A-1 fuel, and requires no change to airport refuelling systems and equipment.

Earlier in the year, plans were announced for a SAF production facility to be constructed in the UK, to come online in 2025.

Last September, major aircraft builder Airbus expressed the hope that it could introduce hydrogen-powered zero emission aircraft by 2035 – but more recently it has said it expects its aircraft will continue using traditional jet fuel until ‘at least 2050’.

Photo: Exolum