With many aircraft too heavy to be fitted with batteries or hydrogen fuel cells and other low-emission technologies, aviation is a notoriously hard-to-abate sector.
SAF credits, certificates that represent the carbon emissions saved by using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) instead of conventional jet fuel, however, an ideal workaround. SAF credits provide an instant solution to reducing emissions and meeting tightening carbon compliance mandates.
CFP Energy is a market leader in sourcing and supplying sustainable aviation fuel credits. With offices in London, Germany, and Poland, we have a permanent presence across Europe to find SAF at the best price to achieve your goals. To access SAF credits, talk to our SAF credit experts today.
Understanding SAF Credits: Accessing Their Environmental Benefits
SAF credits are tradable certificates that allow companies to access the environmental benefits of SAF – i.e. the carbon reductions they represent – separate from the physical fuel itself.
Once issued, SAF credits can be accessed via the book and claim system. In essence, this is where a buyer "books” an amount of SAF and "claims" the corresponding emission reduction.
The book and claim system covers SAF credits and complies with the latest pieces of legislation and regulatory frameworks. These include the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate (ReFuelEU Aviation), the Emission Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), and the Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED).
Similar to the sustainable aviation fuel tax credit system in the US, the UK SAF mandate requires suppliers to blend a percentage of SAF into conventional jet fuel, starting at 2% in 2025 and gradually rising to 22% in 2040.
SAF credits also benefit from certification. Certification bodies like ISCC and RSB verify the sustainability of the fuel and the validity of the credits. This ensures that any emission reduction claims relate to genuine offsets resulting from the fuel.
How Incentives Support and Encourage SAF Credits
As a vital tool in tackling emissions in a notoriously hard-to-abate sector, the UK government has established a range of programmes to support SAF. To scale up SAF and improve its investment profile, these programmes include:
Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF)
The AFF is a UK government initiative that supports the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The fund provides grants to sustainable aviation fuel plants to encourage the use of SAF long-term. These plants produce SAF that qualifies for tradable credits under the UK SAF Mandate.
UK SAF Mandate
Introduced in April 2024, the SAF mandate legally requires fuel suppliers to blend increasing proportions of SAF into jet fuel. The mandate, introduced at 2% of the UK’s total jet fuel demand, will increase linearly to 10% in 2030 and then to 22% in 2040.
The mandate also includes a buy-out mechanism where suppliers pay a fixed buy-out price per litre of fuel if they cannot meet their SAF obligation.
Revenue Support Mechanism (RCM)
Similar to a contract-for-difference, the Revenue Certainty Mechanism (RCM) is a UK government initiative that supports the production of SAF.
By providing a guaranteed price for producers, where the government covers the shortfall between the market price and the agreed strike price, the RCM ensures that SAF production remains viable even when market conditions are uncertain.
How SAF Credits Support Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The most compelling reason to buy SAF credits, alongside voluntary carbon reduction, is to support CSR. Buying SAF credits enables corporates, particularly those that regularly use commercial air travel, to credibly reduce their aviation emissions without altering travel behaviour.
By accessing SAF credits, your business can:
Demonstrate ROI on sustainability spend through enhanced brand value, employee retention benefits, and preferential treatment from ESG-conscious partners and suppliers.
Scale impact without operational disruption by reducing aviation emissions while maintaining critical infrastructure necessary to sustain market presence.
Deliver credible Scope 3 emissions reductions that satisfy institutional investors and ESG rating agencies that treat aviation emissions as key indicators of carbon consumption.
Access innovative sustainability narratives that go beyond generic carbon offsets to showcase investment in cutting-edge decarbonisation technologies.
CFP Energy: Building Your SAF Credit Strategy
At CFP Energy, we’re experts at navigating the complexity of these markets and policies.
As a leading provider of SAF and SAF credits, we work tirelessly to support the energy transition, ensuring that SAF fuel retains its market presence and that corporates can access and redeem the credits that support ongoing production.
To Book & Claim your SAF credits with immediate effect, contact us today.
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