SAF production volumes still disappointing, IATA says
In Brazil, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released estimates showing that global SAF production is expected to reach around 2.4 million tons in 2026, representing just 0.8% of aviation fuel use, at a cost to airlines of $4.3 billion.
“It looks to be another disappointing year for SAF production. Five years after committing to achieve net zero by 2050, SAF production will only account for 0.8% of airline fuel use this year. The path to meeting 65% of our needs in 2050 is growing more difficult with each year of ineffectively sequenced government policies and oil companies’ manifest lack of interest. The current energy shock should add even more urgency to the development of renewables, including SAF. But we have yet to see either the energy shock, the need to develop energy independence and jobs, or the urgency to mitigate climate change materialize in the incentives needed to create a viable SAF market,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
IATA also noted that along with SAF, e-SAF will also play a growing role in air transport’s decarbonization. The conversion of renewable electricity using a power-to-liquid (PtL) process can produce e-SAF. E-SAF does not require biomass or waste oils, but does require large amounts of renewable electricity, green hydrogen, water, and CO2, IATA added.
The body also said that the EU and the UK have mandated e-SAF production of around 0.6 million tons by 2030. However, global production capacity currently operating and under construction stands at around 0.02 million tons with only one single production site in operation. It would take approximately 20 commercial-scale refineries to achieve the mandated volume. Moreover, no new final investment decisions for e-SAF facilities have been made over the past year, according to IATA.
Category: SAF
