🏭CommercialTransportation • Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) produced from waste feedstocks including municipal solid waste, agricultural residues, and used cooking oil can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by 50-80% compared to conventional jet fuel. These drop-in replacement fuels meet existing engine specifications while utilizing waste streams that would otherwise generate methane emissions. Companies like Fulcrum BioEnergy and Neste have commercial production facilities with costs targeting $3-4 per gallon.

How It Works

Waste-to-SAF production uses several pathways including Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), and alcohol-to-jet conversion. Municipal solid waste is gasified to produce syngas, which is converted to synthetic paraffinic kerosene through catalytic processes. HEFA processes convert waste oils and fats through hydrogenation and isomerization to produce jet fuel. Advanced biofuel refineries integrate multiple feedstock pathways for consistent production.

Advantages

Reduces aviation carbon emissions by 50-80% while utilizing existing aircraft and infrastructure, diverts waste from landfills preventing methane emissions, and provides price stability compared to volatile fossil fuel markets. SAF production creates economic value from waste streams and supports circular economy principles. The technology enables aviation decarbonization without requiring new aircraft designs.

Challenges

Production costs 2-4 times higher than conventional jet fuel requiring policy support, faces feedstock supply constraints limiting production scaling, and requires significant capital investment for refinery infrastructure. Complex certification processes for new fuel pathways can take 5-7 years. Competition from other waste utilization applications affects feedstock costs.