The (flight) path to net zero with sustainable aviation fuel
Sep 27, 2024
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Andrew Chen, a principal focused on aviation decarbonization at RMI, shares his insights on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). He discusses the essential role of SAF in curbing the aviation industry's carbon footprint, which currently accounts for 2% of global emissions. The conversation dives into the challenges of scaling up SAF production and the evolving regulatory landscape in the US and Europe. Chen also highlights advancements in aircraft efficiency and the collective actions required for the aviation sector to achieve meaningful decarbonization.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers significant potential to reduce carbon emissions, but its adoption is currently constrained by high production costs and limited supply.
Government incentives, like tax credits and mandatory blending requirements, are essential for promoting the broader use and production of SAF in aviation.
Deep dives
Understanding Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is derived from non-fossil feedstocks, such as waste oils, and can significantly reduce aviation-related carbon emissions. Currently, SAF can be blended with traditional jet fuel up to a maximum of 50%; however, its production is limited and comes with a higher cost. Some airlines are offering passengers the option to purchase flights with cleaner fuel, a step towards making SAF a mainstream choice. To achieve broader adoption, substantial reductions in production costs and increases in supply are essential.
Regulatory Incentives for SAF Production
Government incentives play a crucial role in encouraging SAF production and usage, particularly in the US and EU. The Inflation Reduction Act introduced a SAF tax credit in the US, rewarding producers with a credit for achieving significant lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Similarly, the EU's Refuel EU Aviation Program mandates a gradual increase in SAF blending requirements, starting at 2% in 2025 and rising to 70% by 2050. Additionally, countries like South Korea and Japan are also setting goals for SAF adoption, further highlighting the global push towards sustainable aviation fuels.
Current SAF Usage and Future Projections
Despite a growing interest in SAF, its current market share remains low, with major airlines utilizing SAF in only single-digit percentages of their total fuel consumption. However, projections suggest that by 2030, this could increase to about 10% of total aviation fuel. To facilitate this growth, a significant expansion in SAF production plants and infrastructure will be necessary, representing a critical challenge for the aviation industry. The path towards achieving these goals involves collaborative efforts across governments, airlines, and fuel suppliers to ensure a sustainable future.
Challenges in Adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The aviation sector faces several obstacles in scaling up the adoption of SAF, including high production costs and complications with policy uncertainty. Prominent challenges include the need for commonly accepted accounting principles for emissions reductions from SAF, as well as access to necessary infrastructure at airports. Furthermore, airlines are exploring multiple strategies to enhance fuel efficiency, such as advancements in aircraft design and flight path optimizations, alongside using SAF. Addressing these challenges will be vital to meeting sustainability targets in the aviation industry.
As airlines look to decarbonize and governments crack down on heavy industry carbon emissions, some in the aviation industry are turning to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
In this episode, correspondents Camellia Moors and Camilla Naschert speak with experts from across the SAF industry about what SAF is, how it’s being used, its potential to curb carbon emissions and the biggest challenges and opportunities in its global uptake.
Today’s guests are Andrew Chen, principal for aviation decarbonization at RMI; Dick Benschop, board member and senior fellow at the Mission Possible Partnership; Phil Moore, global head of sustainable aviation fuel at EcoCeres; and Daniel Chereau, head of fuel at the International Air Transport Association.
Subscribe to Energy Evolution to stay current on the energy transition and its implications. Veteran journalists Dan Testa and Taylor Kuykendall co-host the show, which routinely features regular correspondents Camilla Naschert and Camellia Moors.
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