Sustainable Aviation Fuel

SAF

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a cleaner alternative to traditional jet fuel, made from sustainable sources like waste oils, agricultural residues, and non-food crops. It offers a way to reduce carbon emissions in aviation, a sector responsible for 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Even better, SAF can replace fossil jet fuels without requiring any changes to existing aircraft engines or infrastructure.


How is Sustainable Aviation Fuel made?

SAF production has been advancing quickly, with airlines around the world already using it for test flights. Here are a few pathways to making SAF:


  • Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA): Converts waste fats, oils, and greases into jet fuel through refining.
  • Fischer-Tropsch (FT): Turns biomass or waste into syngas, which is converted into liquid fuel.
  • Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ): Ferments biomass into alcohol, which is then refined into jet fuel.
  • Power-to-Liquid (PtL): Uses renewable electricity to produce hydrogen and combine it with CO2 to create liquid hydrocarbons.


Demand for SAF is rising rapidly as the aviation industry pushes to decarbonize.  Jurisdictions are implementing policies mandating SAF use or incentivizing SAF production through tax credits. The biofuel sector is working hard to expand access to feedstocks, enhance production technologies, and lower costs to meet growing demand. These advancements are positioning SAF as a viable, low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel for the next decade and beyond.

For more information on SAF, visit the Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF)