Willis Sustainable Fuels Progresses Teesside SAF Project
Willis LeaseWillis Lease(US:WLFC) Newsfilter·2025-03-31 09:00

Core Insights - Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) announced partnerships with Johnson Matthey and Axens to advance its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in Teesside, UK, targeting commercial operations by Q1 2028 with an annual production capacity of 14,000 tonnes [1][2] Company Overview - WLFC is a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and provides various aviation services, including engine maintenance and asset management [6] - Willis Sustainable Fuels (WSF), a subsidiary of WLFC, is focused on developing scalable solutions to decarbonize aviation [5] Project Details - The SAF project will utilize technologies from Johnson Matthey and Axens, aiming to produce 100% SAF that can be blended with conventional jet fuel, offering approximately 80% greenhouse gas emissions savings compared to current fuels [4][2] - The project has received a grant from the UK Department for Transport's Advanced Fuels Fund, aligning with the UK government's 2050 net-zero target and its goal of having five commercial-scale SAF plants under construction by 2025 [2] Technology and Collaboration - Johnson Matthey's FT CANS™ technology, developed in partnership with bp, will enable commercial-scale production of sustainable fuel [3] - Axens is committed to supporting the project with innovative solutions to drive sustainable progress in the advanced SAF market in the UK [3]