• More investment in new SAF technology is important to bring down current SAF production costs.
• Collaboration across various sectors, including government and private entities, is essential for establishing common rules to regulate SAF production.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a new report, "Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Sustainable Aviation Fuel", focusing on the potential of SAF to reduce the aviation sector's carbon emissions.

The report details how SAF can help flights operate environmentally friendly by replacing regular jet fuel with a cleaner alternative and says that SAF usage could dramatically reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector in the near future.

It examines the current state of SAF production technologies and how ready they are for commercial use. The report guides both private companies and government organisations on how to make the US a leader in SAF production by 2030.

SAF production in the country will exceed 3 billion gallons per year by 2030, notes the report. This will boost investments worth over $44 billion and generate more than 70,000 jobs.

Currently, SAF production is more expensive than that of regular jet fuel. Government intervention through financial incentives is a must to ensure demand for the fuel.

One way to reduce the cost of SAF is to invest more in developing new SAF technologies, enabling their widespread use and ensuring that aviation becomes fully sustainable by 2050. The US must also collaborate with other countries to establish common rules for SAF production.

Read more: Korean Researchers Develop SAF from Wood and Grass

“With the aviation sector growing each year, there is no better time to invest in solutions that are both technologically and commercially ready today,” said U.S Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The latest in DOE’s Liftoff series, this report lays out the critical innovations and investments needed to drive down costs and further scale SAF production—paving the way for a cleaner, more competitive aviation sector that will benefit communities and businesses nationwide.”

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Source: DOE