Solving for Climate Heikki Malinen: Does sustainable aviation fuel work?
Jun 17, 2025
Heikki Malinen, CEO of Neste, a leader in sustainable aviation fuel development, discusses the transformative potential of SAF for the aviation industry. He highlights how these fuels can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% but faces challenges like production costs and regulatory hurdles. The conversation digs into the competitive landscape, particularly China's advantages and the necessity for technological advancements. Malinen emphasizes the urgent need for societal and governmental support to navigate the transition toward more sustainable air travel.
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SAF Made from Waste Oils
- Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by about 80% compared to kerosene.
- SAF is made from waste oils and animal fats collected globally from millions of kitchens, making it a circular economy solution.
SAF Supply Limits and Future Tech
- Scaling SAF faces the challenge of limited supply: global waste oils and fats can only cover around 10% of jet fuel demand.
- Other technologies like synthetic fuels need massive green electricity, which may be limited by competing demands such as AI computing power.
Push Stable SAF Policies
- Governments should provide stable, incremental mandates or incentives for SAF rather than large, unpredictable steps.
- This stability allows producers to steadily increase capacity without market volatility.