BP leads industry taskforce to update SAF standard for UK defense ministry

Photo: BP

BP announced May 8 that it has successfully led a taskforce to achieve approval from the U.K. defense ministry for coprocessing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with up to 30 percent renewable hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) feedstock concentration, a significant increase from the current limit of 5 percent.  

This standard is now approved for the production of JetA1 globally, BP stated.  

The defense-standard milestone was achieved through collaboration with industry stakeholders, including original-equipment manufacturers, the International Air Transport Association, fuel producers and airline companies to help lower lifecycle-carbon emissions in the aviation sector.  

Coprocessing is a method where vegetable oils, waste oils and fats, or similar sustainable feedstocks, are processed along with conventional feedstocks in existing refineries.  

It is a production method for SAF that can be activated quickly and use existing fuel-distribution infrastructure, important especially during the early scale-up of SAF, according to BP. 

BP said this achievement allows it and other fuel producers to accelerate SAF production at higher concentrations using existing processing units at refineries.  

Refinery coprocessing is a crucial step towards reducing aviation-industry emissions, according to BP.  

BP already produces SAF via coprocessing at its refineries and plans to increase its renewable feedstock content from 2025 onwards. 

BP said it continues to support ambitious and long-term policy mechanisms and collaborates with industry and government to explore options for scaling up SAF production more broadly.

“Defense-standard approval for coprocessing SAF is a significant milestone for the industry, and I’d like to thank our partners for their support and input in achieving this,” said Federica Berra, the senior vice president for Air BP. “Coprocessing produces high-quality fuel that meets stringent aviation standards while helping to increase the volume of SAF available to customers.” 

Colonel Pete Skinsley with the U.K. defense ministry added, “I’m delighted that the updated [standard (Def Stan 91-091)] has been published, demonstrating our continued commitment to sustainable aviation fuel. The coprocessing of SAF is a major step toward reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector while sustaining operational demands. This achievement is a great example of a collaborative effort with our industry partners and the wider aviation industry.” 

The inclusion of coprocessing into the aviation fuel standard continues to build on the work done by the defense ministry to reduce its carbon footprint by increasing the availability of SAF, which has been used for routine operations from the Royal Air Force Lossiemouth base since 2024. 

“This is a long-awaited and welcome development that will bring immediate results,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice president of sustainability and chief economist. “Coprocessing is possible with only limited additional capital investments, and it should be maximized—the example of BP and the U.K. defense ministry is one we wish many countries and SAF producers will follow.” 

This project is the result of a three-year program of work at BP’s Bochum technology center, utilizing pilot-plant and analytical-testing facilities to develop these capabilities.  

The project involved synthesizing data and engaging with stakeholders.