The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warns that without further action, carbon emissions from the global aviation industry could skyrocket by 200% to 300% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. The aviation industry must balance meeting the increasing demand for air travel with a gradual reduction in emissions. To accommodate the projected 10 billion passengers by 2050 and achieve the net-zero target, we'll need to cut a total of 21.2 billion tons of carbon emissions from 2021 to 2050.

Compared to other industries, the aviation sector faces challenges in devising comprehensive emission reduction strategies. However, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) presents promising opportunities for emissions reduction within the industry, thanks to its high energy content and emissions-free properties.

Sustainable aviation fuel, true to its name, is derived from renewable sources or waste materials and is certified as safe and environmentally sustainable. Compared to traditional aviation fuel, it can slash carbon emissions by up to 85%. At present, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is manufactured using resources such as forestry residues, agricultural waste, biofuels, and urban solid waste as raw materials.

Biofuels can be categorized into two types based on their raw materials: the first type comprises traditional biofuels derived from food sources like rapeseed oil, soybean oil, palm oil, and others. The second category consists of advanced biofuels that utilize non-food raw materials. According to EU regulations, they can be further classified into two groups. The first group utilizes the non-edible parts of various crops as raw materials, such as corn stalks and sugarcane bagasse. The second group utilizes waste oils and fats, such as gutter oil and animal fat discarded from slaughterhouses.

The physical and chemical properties of SAF closely resemble those of traditional petroleum-based aviation fuel, allowing it to be used in existing aircraft engines without significant modifications to the aircraft design. Moreover, SAF boasts a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional petroleum-based aviation fuel, making it a viable option to significantly lessen the aviation industry's impact on the climate.

There's a global industry consensus that the aviation sector aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, the pace of emission reduction will vary across countries due to differing national conditions. Specifically, regarding sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the primary tool for emissions reduction in aviation, differences exist in SAF usage, implementation timelines, and certification standards.

The U.S. government has enacted the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act and the Sustainable Skies Act, offering tax incentives and subsidies to encourage SAF production. These laws also allocate targeted grants for the development of new technologies, improvements in production processes, and the construction of SAF supply chains. Furthermore, in 2011, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certified the first sustainably produced aviation fuel, marking the beginning of a new era in commercial SAF production.

The EU stands as the first major global economy to introduce a mandatory target for SAF blending ratio. In 2021, the EU unveiled regulations on sustainable aviation fuel, mandating that starting from 2025, all aircraft departing from or arriving at EU airports must utilize aviation fuel blended with SAF at a rate of 2%. This blending ratio is set to incrementally rise to 5% by 2030 and reach 63% by 2050. To promote the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, EU member states and the European Commission offer a range of financial incentives. These include tax incentives, subsidies for research and development, and government procurement support.

Production targets for sustainable aviation fuel still encounter challenges related to costs and profitability

Sustainable aviation fuel projects also incur high costs due to the additional processing required for biofuels. Additionally, raw materials like cooking oil are often in limited supply, further adding to the challenge. Despite significant growth in recent years, the production costs of SAF remain higher than those of traditional aviation kerosene. This disparity will directly affect airlines and consumers utilizing SAF, as the current price of sustainable jet fuel is three to five times or more expensive than traditional jet fuel.