Willis Sustainable Fuels and Green Finance Institute launch accelerator to advance UK’s SAF infrastructure

Willis Sustainable Fuels UK and the Green Finance Institute, an independent advisor to governments and investors, have announced a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) Project Accelerator.
They aim to bring WSF’s pioneering SAF project at Wilton International in Teesside to final investment decision (FiD) and establish a replicable blueprint for financing new homegrown transition projects.
Since the start of 2025, the UK’s SAF mandate requires increasing levels of SAF in the UK’s jet fuel supply to reach 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040.
Under the mandate, the economic, energy-security and innovation benefits of expanding domestic SAF production are compelling.
This policy stability provides a strong, long-term demand signal to accelerate SAF growth, but the challenge remains in reaching bankability.
WSF’s Teesside project is one of the UK’s most advanced second-generation SAF projects, using existing, proven technology to make SAF from waste.
Targeting 14,000 tonnes of production per year, the project supports national energy security, by reducing reliance on imported fuels and anchors new green-industry jobs in the Northeast, by converting mainly UK biomethane into next-generation jet fuel.
“This partnership with the GFI is a vital step in demonstrating the commercial viability of SAF projects in the UK,” said Dr Amy Ruddock, director, Willis Sustainable Fuels. “Together, we aim to create a blueprint for financing solutions that will accelerate the transition to low-carbon aviation.”
“Our collaboration with WSF exemplifies how strategic partnerships across the value chain can unlock investment for innovative technologies,” said Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, CEO at GFI. “By launching this accelerator approach, we aim to scale SAF production to support the UK’s ambitions for a homegrown SAF industry.”
Both organisations will also collaborate on communicating best practice and lessons learned from this process to raise visibility for SAF financing solutions within the UK’s transition finance ecosystem.