Page 166 - CW E-Magazine (16-1-2024)

News from Abroad

DECARBONISING AVIATION
IATA urges policy support for improving SAF supply

to meet growing demand

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pro-
duction volumes in 2023 reached over
600-mn litres (0.5-mt), double the 300-mn
litres (0.25-mt) produced in 2022, accord-
ing to estimates released by the Inter-
national Air Transport Association (IATA),
the leading global airline industry lobby.

SAF accounted for 3% of all renew-
able fuels produced, with 97% of renew-
able fuel production going to other sectors.

In 2024, IATA expects SAF produc-
tion to triple to 1.875-bn litres (1.5-mt),
accounting for 0.53% of aviation’s fuel
need, and 6% of renewable fuel capacity. Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3), hosted by in 2029. Governments must set a policy
The small percentage of SAF output as the International Civil Aviation Organiza- framework that incentivises renewable
a proportion of overall renewable fuel is tion (ICAO) in Dubai last November, had fuel producers to allocate 25-30% of
primarily due to the new capacity coming agreed on a global framework to promote their output to SAF to meet the CAAF/3
online in 2023 being allocated to other SAF production in all geographies for ambition, existing regional and national
renewable fuels. fuels used in international aviation to policies as well as airline commitments,”
be 5% less carbon intensive by 2030. the Association stated.
“The doubling of SAF production in To reach this level, about 17.5-bn litres
2023 was encouraging as is the expected (14-mt) of SAF need to be produced. According to IATA, approximately
tripling of production expected in 2024. 85% of SAF facilities coming on line
But even with that impressive growth, “Governments want aviation to be net over the next fi ve years will use hydro-
SAF as a portion of all renewable fuel pro- zero by 2050. Having set an interim target treatment (HEFA) technology, which
duction will only grow from 3% this year in the CAAF process they now need to relies on inedible animal fats (tallow),
to 6% in 2024. This allocation limits SAF deliver policy measures that can achieve used cooking oil and industrial grease
supply and keeps prices high. Aviation the needed exponential increase in SAF as feedstock. Limited quantities of these
needs between 25% and 30% of renewable production,” said Mr. Walsh. necessitate policies to:
fuel production capacity for SAF. At those  Diversify SAF production by increas-
levels aviation will be on the trajectory According to IATA, there is no pro- ing production through pathways
needed to reach net zero carbon emissions blem on the demand side as all SAF already certifi ed, in particular the
by 2050. Until such levels are reached, we produced has been bought and used. At Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) and Fischer-
will continue missing huge opportunities least 43 airlines have already committed Tropsch (FT) which use bio/agri-
to advance aviation’s decarbonisation. It is to use some 16.25-bn litres (13-mt) of cultural wastes and residue.
government policy that will make the dif- SAF in 2030, with more agreements  Promote investments in, and the
ference. Governments must prioritise poli- being announced regularly. fast-tracking of certifi cation for new
cies to incentivise the scaling-up of SAF SAF production pathways currently in
production and to diversify feedstocks Unlocking supply to meet demand the developmental phase.
with those available locally,” commented is the challenge that needs to be solved,  Identify more potential feedstocks to
Mr. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. IATA emphasised. leverage all SAF technologies to pro-
vide diversifi cation and regional
CAAF/3 outcome “Projections are for over 78-bn litres options, including those with side-bene-
The Third Conference on Aviation (63-mt) of renewable fuels to be produced fi ts such as environmental restoration.

166 Chemical Weekly January 16, 2024

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