Is SAF the Answer to Aviation Decarbonisation?

SAF this, SAF that. But what is actually is SAF, and how could it revolutionise the aviation industry’s sustainability credentials?

An abbreviation for sustainable aviation fuel, SAF is an aircraft-specific biofuel. Although not fossil fuel in origin, it boasts similar properties to conventional jet fuel, but with a smaller carbon footprint. SAF can be made from non-petroleum feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, household waste, forestry waste, energy crops and algae.

On average, SAF can reduce CO₂ emissions by 80% compared to traditional jet fuel, multinational aerospace corporation Airbus cites.

SAF: A key player in aviation’s decarbonisation journey

Some of the main ways SAF is having a great impact on aviation’s sustainability credentials include:

• Carbon emission reductions: This comes as SAF is derived from renewable resources like waste oils, agricultural residues and non-food crops, which can absorb CO₂ during their growth phase.
• Drop-in compatibility: Planes don’t need to be completely redesigned for SAF to work. It can be used in existing aircraft engines and fuel infrastructure without requiring significant modifications, allowing airlines to reduce emissions immediately rather than waiting for new technologies or aircraft.
• Immediate impact: As stated above, SAF can be implemented immediately. And, as SAF is already available and in use, it can contribute to decarbonisation efforts now.
• Scalability and diverse feedstock: SAF can be produced from a wide variety of feedstocks, including waste materials, making it scalable.
• Support from regulations and industry: Governments and international organisations are increasingly supporting SAF through incentives, subsidies and mandates. The aviation industry itself is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, with SAF playing a central part of its strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Reduction of non-CO₂ emissions: It’s not all about CO₂ emissions. Besides CO₂, SAF can also help reduce other harmful emissions, such as sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter.
• Long-term potential: While SAF alone may not be the complete solution for aviation decarbonization, it plays a crucial role in the near and medium-term. As other technologies like electric and hydrogen aircraft mature, SAF can bridge the gap and continue to be part of a diversified approach to reducing aviation's environmental impact.

“There’s simply not enough SAF and it’s clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment,” Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic’s CEO said when Richard Branson’s Virgin flew the inaugural SAF-fueled trans-Atlantic flight, Flight100. “This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by government, are in place.

“Flight100 proves that if you make it, we’ll fly it.”

Speaking at Sustainability LIVE: Net Zero, Susanne Bouma, Head of Partnerships and Programs at Neste added: “We don't need any separate tanks, any separate storage, any separate infrastructure, which means it's a solution that indeed has been in use for quite some time without needing any additional investments.”

What are the barriers to SAF adoption industry-wide?

High production costs, limited availability and scalability challenges are all challenges standing in the way of widespread SAF adoption.

But why is availability not keeping up with demand? 

SAF’s origins being feedstock-based — mixed with the complexity of the production process — pose major challenges, with price also becoming a problem. This makes it a premium product, particularly because it requires additional refining and has lower yields. 

However, it has been said that if users account for the carbon emissions they reduce by using SAF instead of conventional jet fuel, they may be willing to pay the expensive price tag.

In 2022, SAF was priced at approximately US$2,400 per tonne, around two-and-a-half times the price of its conventional fossil fuel-based alternatives.

Overcoming these barriers requires increased investment, technological innovation and supportive policies to scale production and reduce costs, making SAF a more accessible solution for aviation.

“It's hugely important that we continue to support the ramp-up and growth of the industry,” Susanne concludes.

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