INDUSTRY NEWS
NEW COLLABORATION AIMS TO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF) USING NUCLEAR ENERGY
Equilibrion and Rolls-Royce SMR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding 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. Equilibrion is a UK project development and technology company creating new commercial opportunities for nuclear energy across hard-to- decarbonise industries. Eq.flight is Equilibrion’s proprietary modular system for producing SAF at commercial scale and with lower lifecycle emissions compared to other technologies. Eq.flight will produce e-SAF with electricity and heat – also known
as power-to-liquids (PtL) SAF – 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.
RENENERGY INSTALLS SOLAR CARPORT AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WALES
A multi-story solar carport installation has been delivered by RenEnergy UK for the University Hospital Wales. The project involved
the full design, installation and commissioning of a solar carport system constructed on top of a live multi storey car park. The installation sits directly beneath the operational flight path of the Air Ambulance helipad and next to a blue light emergency access lane at the lower level. Both assets remained fully operational for the entire duration of construction. The completed system provides an installed capacity of 653.82 kWp across 1,282 solar modules, covering a PV surface area of 2,893 square metres and supported by 12 inverters. It is expected to generate 1,048.54
kWh per kWp annually and avoid approximately 102,148 kilograms of CO2 emissions each year. According to the company, the installation strengthens long term energy
resilience, reduces exposure to volatile energy costs and supports National Health Service (NHS) net zero ambitions. The structure also offers practical estate benefits by supplying weather protection for staff, patients and visitors, and making productive use of the existing car park footprint. The scheme demonstrates how renewable energy infrastructure can
be delivered safely and effectively within high-risk clinical settings. It also reflects RenEnergy’s capability to meet all relevant NHS standards, legislative obligations and safety requirements while operating in live environments where continuity of critical services is essential. “Our delivery at University Hospital Wales shows that renewable
infrastructure can be integrated into the most complex NHS environments when planned with absolute focus on patient care, emergency access and operational continuity. Every element of this installation was managed to protect critical services while providing the hospital with a long-term asset that supports energy resilience and measurable carbon reduction,” said William Lloyd, senior project manager, RenEnergy UK.
www.renenergy.co.uk/ www.essmag.co.uk ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2026 5
Supported by a Department for Transport grant under the Advanced Fuels Fund, Equilibrion and its partners are delivering a world- leading UK-based demonstration of Eq.flight by 2030
to confirm both the technical viability and economic case of the system. The collaboration explores how Equilibrion’s Eq.flight SAF production
system can be powered from Rolls-Royce SMR’s clean, reliable power solution. Together, the technologies have the potential to produce over 160 million litres of SAF per year per Rolls-Royce SMR, meeting around a third of the UK’s 2040 PtL target.
www.equilibrion.co.uk AI-POWERED TOOL ENABLES
COMPANIES TO ASSESS THE SOLAR POTENTIAL OF THEIR BUILDINGS
Fewer than 5% of UK buildings have onsite solar, according to Southampton-based Absolar. Aiming to change this, the company has introduced AI-powered technology, Absolar Orbit. Absolar Orbit provides organisations with a comprehensive overview of
their ‘roof worth’, including CO2 reduction figures and energy bill savings, within 60 seconds of entering a postcode. By providing evidence-led
data, Absolar hopes the platform will empower sustainability leads to bypass the uncertainty that often stalls green investments. “Solar has enormous potential, but organisations often lack the
confidence to invest,” says Dr Phil Wu. “Our Absolar Orbit technology reveals the true solar capacity of buildings, allowing for meaningful, data-driven climate action without the need for initial engineer visits or resource-heavy surveys.” According to the company, the real-world impact is already visible. Draper
Tools used the tool to kickstart a project that now generates half a million kWh of clean energy annually. Crucially, Absolar remains one of the few providers that handles the journey from AI modelling through to physical installation, ensuring that theoretical carbon savings become a reality. For businesses looking to slash Scope 2 emissions, the tool represents the fastest route from curiosity to carbon reduction, the company explains. Free for any organisation to use, Absolar Orbit has now assessed the
solar potential of over 5,000 buildings, with the average payback period coming in under five years.
www.absolar.co.uk/
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