UK companies Equilibrion and Rolls-Royce SMR have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a technical and economic assessment to better understand the opportunity for nuclear powered Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using small modular reactors (SMRs).
The Rolls-Royce SMR is designed to provide clean, reliable cost-competitive energy through its ‘factory-built’ SMR technology. The heat and electricity from a Rolls-Royce SMR power station is well suited to industrial processes, such as hydrogen production and synthetic fuel synthesis that require consistent energy inputs.
The Rolls-Royce SMR design is a three-loop pressurised water reactor with an output of 470 MWe derived from 1,358 MWt. The Rolls-Royce SMR concept is centred on modularisation of reliable and proven technology, allowing maximum use of the factory environment to combine standard components with advanced manufacturing techniques.
Equilibrion’s Eq.flight is a proprietary modular system for producing SAF at commercial scale and with lower lifecycle emissions compared to other technologies making it ideal for UK and international deployment. Eq.flight will produce e-SAF with electricity and heat which will contribute to the UK’s SAF Mandate targets. The enhanced efficiency of the system will produce more SAF using less energy and be a key enabler to securing domestic e-SAF production and the associated jobs and economic growth.
Equilibrion and its partners, supported by a Department for Transport grant under the Advanced Fuels Fund, aim to deliver a UK-based demonstration of Eq.flight by 2030 to confirm both the technical viability and economic case of the system.
The collaboration with Rolls Royce SMR will explore how Equilibrion’s Eq.flight SAF production system can be powered from Rolls-Royce SMR’s power solution. Together, the technologies have the potential to produce over 160m litres of SAF a year, meeting around a third of the UK’s 2040 target. Under the agreement, the partners will collaborate to develop a deeper understanding of the technical and economic case for global SAF production solution, optimised with nuclear energy.
“Aviation will only meet its climate commitments if SAF becomes available in large, dependable volumes,” said Equilibrion Director Caroline Longman. “Nuclear‑derived fuel production offers the reliability, scalability and low carbon intensity needed to deliver that future. Delivering nuclear‑enabled SAF also creates long‑term, high‑quality employment – each Eq.flight facility has the potential to generate around 10,000 skilled local jobs over its lifetime.”
Alan Woods, Director of Strategy & Business Development for Rolls-Royce SMR noted: “Our SMR technology is designed to provide clean, affordable and dependable low‑carbon energy, exactly the qualities required to unlock large‑scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel production. The technical and economic assessment completed with Equilibrion will enable them to demonstrate how nuclear can power one of the most ambitious decarbonisation challenges in aviation.”
Meanwhile, Bristol Airport and Equilibrion, supported by Q8Aviation and Exolum, have completed a feasibility study into the large-scale production of nuclear-derived SAF and hydrogen in South West England. The project demonstrates how the region could meet Bristol Airport’s growing demand for sustainable fuels for both flight and ground operations. The study found that SMRs could be based in the South West and used to generate both SAF and hydrogen to support the Airport’s transition to lower emissions from its operations.
The project was funded through Bristol Airport’s Airport Carbon Transition (ACT) Programme. The strategic fund is designed to fast-track decarbonisation projects to tackle emissions from flight and transport, supporting organisations develop cutting-edge technologies that will drive the aviation industry towards zero carbon emission flights.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel will play a critical role in decarbonising aviation globally, but we need to ensure that there is a reliable, affordable supply,” said Hannah Pollard, Head of Sustainability for Bristol Airport. “Equilibrion’s ground-breaking report shows the huge potential that nuclear-derived SAF offers. With our region’s nuclear pedigree and available sites, the South West is well-positioned to host SMRs and lead the development of this exciting technology.”
Equilibrion Director Dr Phil Rogers said Eq.flight provides a unique opportunity to produce low-carbon fuels close to where they are used, creating jobs, investment, and local value. “Our mission to decarbonise aviation using nuclear energy is advancing rapidly, and completion of this project is a major milestone.”
