The conference convened producers, investors, policymakers, and technical experts to explore the evolving role of biomass in the global transition to low-carbon energy, with a particular focus on its contribution to decarbonizing aviation.

Representing Alfanar Projects, Dr. Simon Owens, Director of Engineering & Technical at Lighthouse Green Fuels, joined a panel discussion titled “SAF – Biomass in the Transition to Low-Carbon Flying.” The session brought together industry leaders to discuss the practical steps required to bring next-generation sustainable aviation fuel production to commercial scale.

During the discussion, Dr. Simon shared a first-hand perspective drawn from the development of Lighthouse Green Fuels as Europe’s Largest second-generation biomass-to-SAF plant, addressing the real-world complexities that define first-of-a-kind project delivery. The panel explored how technical risk management at scale remains one of the defining challenges for emerging SAF technologies.

He further addressed the financing structures required to underpin projects of this nature in an evolving market. The discussion underscored that accelerating SAF deployment across the UK and Europe is not solely a matter of technological innovation. Rather, it requires coordinated alignment across supply chains, financing mechanisms, and regulatory environments.

Commenting on the discussion, Dr. Simon said, “Translating SAF ambition into operational reality requires more than engineering excellence; it demands a coherent ecosystem in which feedstock security, investor confidence, and policy reinforce one another. Our vision, at Lighthouse Green Fuels, is to fuel the future of flight from Teesside, which is only possible when supply chains, capital, and policy all move in the same direction.”