Plans to produce green jet fuel in Workington have been approved by the Government, as £6 million funding to fast-track the project to the next stage has been announced.
Workington MP Josh MacAlister, who has been working for months alongside Cumberland Council to bring the plant to a site near the port, joined Aviation Minister Mike Kane to celebrate the announcement this week.
The company behind the Workington project, Carbon Neutral Fuels, received the largest award for a fuel project in this funding round, and it was the only project awarded in Cumbria.
The grant will support the completion of Front-End Engineering Design for the facility, positioning it for investment and construction in 2027, with a target operation date of 2031.
Mr MacAlister said: “I am thrilled that we can now reveal Workington as the intended home for this new facility after months of work behind the scenes to secure the funding and the site and sort out the Grid connection and we’re now in the final stages.
“This £6 million cash injection from the Government is a real vote of confidence in our community which will help to fast-track the project to a final investment decision.
“We’re not at the final hurdle yet, but this is a really positive step forward not only for the UK’s ambition to be a global leader in green aviation, but also for West Cumbria’s industrial regeneration and my plan to bring the green jobs of the future to our community.
“The plant’s intended location close to the Port of Workington also supports the plan I’m developing with Cumberland Council for a major upgrade of the port.
“The council and I recently met with the Minister for Industry to discuss the next steps for that project and we’ll be driving it forward in the weeks and months ahead.
“We’ve got an MP, a council and a government working in lockstep to deliver a brighter future for West Cumbria. There’s a lot to be excited about!”
Sophie Zienkiewicz, co-founder of Carbon Neutral Fuels, added: “Our vision for Carbon Neutral Fuels is to prove that decarbonising flight is both possible and essential.
“This government funding will help us deliver our facility in West Cumbria, that significantly reduces the aviation industry’s overall carbon footprint, but reshapes what’s possible for future fuels.”
Sustainable aviation fuel is an alternative to fossil jet fuel which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon Neutral Fuels is pioneering a process using carbon dioxide and low carbon electricity with a plan to produce 25,000 tonnes per year of green jet fuel.
Once operational, the facility is expected to deliver an 89% reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to fossil jet fuel, making a significant contribution to the UK’s climate targets.
Low carbon fuel production could add up to £5 billion to the economy by 2050, position the UK as a global hub for sustainable aviation fuel production and enable the UK to go further and faster with expansion plans.
