Sustainability In The Air

IATA’s blueprint for accelerating SAF production and adoption

Jun 6, 2024

Preeti Jain from IATA discusses the challenges of scaling up sustainable aviation fuel production to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. She emphasizes the need for increased SAF plants, policy support, and collaboration among stakeholders. Jain sees potential in leveraging existing refinery infrastructure and expects SAF costs to decline over time. Her strategy involves feedstocks, technology, policy support, and partnerships to overcome challenges and accelerate SAF adoption.

01:15:27

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Preeti Jain

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Scaling up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) faces challenges like inconsistent policy support and high capital costs.

Exploring diverse feedstock options is crucial for sustainable aviation fuel production but faces obstacles in integration and scaling.

Governments need to incentivize SAF production through policy support and financial incentives to drive collaboration and investment.

Deep dives

Challenges in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

Meeting the significant increase in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production demands till 2050 poses a major challenge, with current production levels falling short. The average plant size, availability, technology maturity, and financing gaps hinder meeting the increasing production requirements.

Intro

3min

IATA's 79th Anniversary Celebration and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiatives

7min

Challenges and Strategies for Accelerating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production and Adoption

19min

Global Expansion of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Supply

19min

Optimism for Sustainable Aviation and Literary Preferences

3min

Exploring favorites and aspirations

2min

Discussion on Yoga Practice, Believing in Oneself, and Ending the Interview Positively

2min

Accelerating Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production and Adoption

22min

In our first-ever bilingual episode, we talk to Preeti Jain, Head of Net Zero Transition Program at the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Jain provides an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in scaling up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help aviation achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The interview is presented in two parts: English followed by Hindi.

Jain discusses the current SAF landscape, highlighting the stark mismatch between demand and supply. Emphasising the need for greater SAF production, she estimates that a 1000-fold increase is required by 2050, amounting to roughly 300 new SAF plants each year. This rapid scale-up, however, is hindered by several challenges: inconsistent policy support, high capital costs and under-developed feedstock supply chains.

IATA’s strategy for overcoming these challenges involves a multi-pronged approach focusing on feedstocks, technology development, policy support, and collaboration across stakeholders. Jain emphasises the need for policies that encourage SAF production and adoption, and commends the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard as good examples. She sees potential in leveraging existing refinery infrastructure for SAF production, and expects SAF’s cost to decline over time as more facilities are deployed and technologies mature.

Jain also discusses the potential for SAF to deliver benefits beyond emissions reductions, such as improved energy security and rural economic development, particularly in emerging economies with large agricultural sectors. She also emphasises the critical role of collaboration across the aviation industry, governments, and civil society to build a thriving SAF ecosystem.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with IATA’s SVP Sustainability & Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Our Commitment to Fly Net Zero by 2050 - IATA

SAF Offtake Agreements - ICAO

SAF Deployment - IATA

Net Zero Roadmaps - IATA

Domestic air passenger traffic likely touched 15.4 crore in 2023-24: Report - The Economic Times

How IATA envisions merging economics and sustainability in aviation - SimpliFlying