Construction begins on “UK’s first fully circular” tyre-to-fuel facility dedicated to the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain at the port of Sunderland.
Tyre-to-fuel business Wastefront said the new facility is the largest of its kind in Europe. The facility’s first commercial phase will start at the end of 2026, with the second phase launching a year later.
Once fully operational, Wastefront said the plant will process 10 million end-of-life tyres annually and convert them into tyre-derived oil for refining into SAF and other sustainable fuels.
Vianney Valès, CEO of Wastefront, commented: “Our circular process not only prevents millions of tyres from being discarded in landfills but also provides a scalable, cost-effective pathway for SAF production.
“This process will also reduce lifecycle emissions by more than 80% compared to fossil fuels. The Sunderland facility is just the beginning – we aim to expand rapidly to meet the growing demand for sustainable fuels.”
Our circular process not only prevents millions of tyres from being discarded in landfills but also provides a scalable, cost-effective pathway for SAF production.
The Sunderland facility utilises an advanced heating process without oxygen called pyrolysis technology to convert end-of-life tyres into tyre-derived oil, which will be refined into SAF.
Wastefront said its system is self-sustaining and recycles the gases generated during pyrolysis to power its operations.
By 2030, Wastefront aims to operate four large-scale plants, collectively producing 128,000 tonnes of oil annually, which it says will yield approximately 90,000 tonnes of SAF.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended at the Port of Sunderland by MP for Sunderland Central Lewis Atkinson, leader of Sunderland City Council Cllr Michael Mordey, and Wastefront CEO Vianney Valès.
MP for Sunderland Central Lewis Atkinson said: “This £100 million investment by Wastefront is a huge vote of confidence in Sunderland, our workforce, and our region’s future as a leader in green innovation.
“The Port of Sunderland is rapidly becoming a hub for cutting-edge industry, and this project will create skilled jobs for local people while also securing our position at the forefront of the UK’s net-zero economy.”
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