Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are alternative fuels derived from renewable sources that aim to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. These fuels are produced from feedstocks like used cooking oil, algae, municipal waste, agricultural residues, and even carbon dioxide captured from industrial processes.
Unlike conventional jet fuels derived from crude oil, SAF can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions because they either emit less carbon dioxide during combustion or are carbon-neutral.
As Germany puts a 20% green tax on passengers flying on commercial airline travel starting May, we need a stronger push and investment in green fuel for consumers so they can get flying without taxing the environment. Can SAFs lead the way?
“When Germany’s economic performance is anemic at best, denting its competitiveness with more taxes on aviation is policy madness. The government should be prioritizing measures to improve Germany’s competitive position and encouraging trade and travel. Instead, they have gone for a short-term cash-grab which can only damage the economy’s long-term growth,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 320 airlines or 83% of total air traffic. The trade group supports many areas of aviation activity and helps formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues.
The IATA says Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The largest acceleration is expected in the 2030s as policy support becomes global, SAF becomes competitive with fossil kerosene, and credible offsets become scarcer.
But “government policy has an instrumental role to play in the deployment of SAF. IATA encourages policies which are harmonized across countries and industries, while being technology and feedstock agnostic. Incentives should be used to accelerate SAF deployment,” says a statement from the IATA.
Several companies are actively involved in the research, development, and production of sustainable aviation fuels. Some prominent examples include:
- Neste: A Finnish company known for its renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production. Neste is one of the largest producers of SAF globally and has partnerships with various airlines and airports.
- Gevo is a NASDAQ-traded US-based company that focuses on developing bio-based alternatives to petroleum-based products. They are actively working on producing SAF from renewable feedstocks such as corn, wood waste, and other sustainable sources.
- Velocys is a British company specializing in sustainable aviation fuels and renewable diesel. They use gasification and Fischer-Tropsch technology to convert waste biomass into fuels suitable for aviation.
- World Energy: This company, formerly known as AltAir Fuels, is based in the United States and produces renewable diesel and SAF from various feedstocks, including waste fats, oils, and greases.
- Shell: While primarily known as an oil and gas company, Shell has been investing in renewable energy and alternative fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels. They are involved in various projects and partnerships aimed at developing SAF technologies.
- SkyNRG: A Dutch company dedicated to developing and supplying sustainable aviation fuels. They collaborate with airlines, airports, and other stakeholders to promote the adoption of SAF in the aviation industry.
- The NASDAQ-traded XCF. XCF Global aims to be a leading producer of SAFs with an initial annual production capacity of 38 million gallons following the acquisition of New Rise Renewables, which owns a flagship plant and adjacent site in Reno, Nevada.XCF will be the only pure-play public SAF producer in the US market, with competition mainly coming from legacy crude oil providers.
