GRAMM seeks UK government funding for SAF project at Royal Port of Barrow

A digital visualization of the GRAMM's U.K. project whose target output is 250,000 metric tons of SAF per year from ag and forestry waste. (Source: GRAMM Energy)

GRAMM, a collaborative industry consortium, announced in April its application to the U.K. Advanced Fuels Fund, seeking support to accelerate its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project.

“The GRAMM SAF project will catalyze energy transition of the U.K. aviation industry while delivering significant economic benefits locally and nationally,” the consortium stated.

GRAMM said its SAF cuts carbon emissions fourfold beyond the U.K. SAF-mandate requirements, adding that this enables the project to deliver 53.5 percent of the U.K.’s 2035 SAF target at the market-leading price.

Apart from its positive environmental impact, GRAMM said it will create 850 new jobs in the North West of England, bringing economic revitalization to communities that need it most.

“Advanced Fuels Fund support will propel U.K. sustainable aviation forward,” said Alexander Peschkoff, GRAMM consortium lead. “Meeting a significant part of the U.K. aviation sector’s net-zero obligations will establish GRAMM as a leading sustainable aviation fuel producer. This project also proves that decarbonization can tackle climate challenges while driving regional economic growth.”

GRAMM said its vision has attracted strong industry backing, particularly from BioTfueL®, an end-to-end technology platform developed by IFP Energies Nouvelles together with the Bionext partners, including global energy leader Total Energies, technology licensor Axens and industrial-solutions provider Thyssenkrupp Uhde.

According to GRAMM, the BioTfueL partnership provides world-class expertise and innovation to ensure the project’s success and maximizes environmental and economic benefits.

The target-output volume is 250,000 metric tons of SAF produced from certified agricultural, forestry and processing residue using the BioTfueL technology platform.

By capturing and permanently storing 1.5 million tons of CO2, GRAMM said its SAF will reduce carbon emissions four times more than the U.K. SAF-mandate benchmark.

“The GRAMM SAF project has been built on solid foundations and is comprised of an experienced, diverse team of partners that together can significantly grow U.K. SAF production while also accelerating local infrastructure development and economic vitalization,” stated Jacques Rault, Axens’ executive vice president of technology. “Axens is committed to supporting GRAMM SAF projects by bringing the results of a decade-long technology development and proof testing at semi-industrial scale. Our support for the GRAMM SAF project illustrates Axens’ partnering spirit and dedication to drive technology innovation into an industrial reality.”

The proposed location for the GRAMM SAF project is the Royal Port of Barrow, for which Associated British Ports—the U.K.’s leading and best-connected port operator—announced an ambitious development masterplan to create an advanced-engineering cluster.

The port is also home to another GRAMM project partner—Centrica-owned Spirit Energy, which is planning to repurpose the depleted Morecambe Bay Gas Fields in Barrow into the world-leading MNZ carbon store.

Regional support for the GRAMM SAF project has been equally robust with assistance from the North West Net Zero Hub, a regional program dedicated to promoting investment in energy projects; Net Zero North West, an industry-led collaboration driving industrial decarbonization across the North West; and Enterprising Cumbria, the newly established body working to boost economic development throughout Cumbria County.

“GRAMM has assembled a very strong consortium to progress their proposals for a first-of-a-kind large-scale SAF production facility,” said James Johnson, the North West Net Zero Hub’s head of regional programs. “Support from the Aviation Fuel Fund, if approved, would help the project progress. The North West Net Zero Hub has been pleased to support GRAMM. We recognize the importance of the national-policy framework for sustainable aviation fuel, and if successful, the GRAMM project could be a transformative opportunity for the North West, creating substantial job and supply-chain opportunities throughout its delivery phases.”

NZNW CEO Jane Gaston added, “As the home to two of the U.K.’s airports, Net Zero North West recognized in our manifesto the importance of providing a resilient supply of significant volumes of sustainable fuel to support the aviation industry. Our own work in developing the North West Industrial Cluster Plan shows that the North West is uniquely placed to deliver transformational projects such as this. It’s therefore no surprise that GRAMM has chosen to target delivery of this project in our region.”

The funding from the U.K. Advanced Fuels Fund, if the application is successful, will enable the GRAMM consortium to move from planning to implementation, making the project a reality.

GRAMM said its SAF project will position the U.K. as a world leader in SAF production, accelerating the nation’s journey to net-zero emissions by 2050.