The UK government’s plans to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to 10% of total UK jet fuel demand by 2030 relies heavily on the availability of sufficient SAF feedstock. In August, Norwegian company Wastefront will begin construction on one of Europe’s largest tire-to-fuel facilities at the Port of Sunderland, which will convert waste tires into tire-derived oil (TDO), and subsequently process TDO into SAF. Wastefront intends to begin TDO production in 2026.
Once at full capacity, the plant in Sunderland will process up to 10 million waste tires per year, preventing them from ending in landfills or being incinerated.
“The SAF mandate is hugely significant for the UK aviation industry and a clarion call for the North East,” said Vianney Vales, CEO of Wastefront. “Working alongside our partners at the Port of Sunderland, we are on a pathway to bring ultra-low-cost sustainable aviation fuels to market. With production expected to commence in 2026, our plant in Sunderland will be leading a new generation of pathways to clean transport fuels. Not only do we aid the UK’s transition to sustainable air travel, we also address the growing problem of waste tires in the UK. Our facility represents a significant investment in the region and will create scores of highly skilled jobs.”
The TDO produced in Sunderland will first be co-processed into road transportation fuel or SAF in third-party refineries. At a later stage, it will be converted into SAF in dedicated facilities.
