The evidence-based review, Oil based cover crops for aviation fuel in Scotland - question and answer report, explores the options for growing oil producing oil seed plants in Scotland to produce aviation fuel. Undertaking this review was one of the key recommendations for Government emanating from the recent Project Willow report, a joint UK and Scottish Government feasibility study that explored low-carbon industrial alternatives for Scotland's Grangemouth site.
The primary option is camelina, which is already grown in several other countries for aviation fuel and is also grown in the UK for the health food market. It is seen as a possible alternative, along with oil seed rape, due to the quality of its oil.
A further project will now investigate how camelina will grow in Scottish conditions and how it could fit into Scotland’s agricultural rotations, as well as the potential impacts, positive and negative, on the environment through a series of small field trials.
“Camelina, particularly winter grown camelina, is a relatively novel crop for Scotland” said Dr Tracy Valentine, senior research scientist at the Hutton, who will lead the field trials project. “By growing over winter, we hope to fit in with the main spring cropping season. Initially we will be looking at frost tolerance, growth rates, pests and fertiliser requirements, and ease of crop agronomy for farmers. This work will help to understand the potential for camelina to be grown as a biofuel crop in Scotland. Camelina is an oil seed plant, similar to oil seed rape and is part of the Brassicaceae (commonly known as mustard) plant family. It is widely grown across north America and Europe and is used for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production due to its high oil content and ultra-low carbon intensity compared to other alternative crops.”
One tonne of camelina seeds can be converted into approximately 200-230 litres of aviation fuel though this amount varies depending on factors like the seed's oil content, which is typically 38-47 percent. A light aircraft burns, on average, 22 to 45 litres of fuel per hour.
Camelina oil is also increasingly being used as a cooking oil. It is rich in vitamin E and omega fatty acids and has a higher smoking point than most other cooking oils.
The Hutton offers world-leading scientific solutions to the challenges posed by the climate and nature crises and is well-placed to contribute to the Scottish Government’s ambitious target of 2045 for Scotland to reach net zero emissions for all greenhouse gases.
SRUC is committed to tackling some of the major challenges facing the world, including climate change, biodiversity loss and food security.
“At current market prices, economic viability would have to be considered, as its production is currently less competitive than other main crops in Scotland” added Dr Shailesh Shrestha, an agricultural economist at SRUC.
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