Promise of SAF Lies With Its Scalability, Cost Effectiveness | Aviation International News

Sustainability and Environment

Promise of SAF Lies With Its Scalability, Cost Effectiveness

Government support and stakeholder partnerships will prove critical in ensuring the fuel becomes maintstream.

By Gregory Polek • Senior Editor

June 1, 2021

Aviation’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 will require the adoption of a range of technological advances. But perhaps the most readily attainable—sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—has already advanced to the point of commercial application, demonstrating its ability to safely power turbofan engines on a 50-50 blend of SAF to conventional jet fuel.

While companies such as Airbus consider hydrogen power the “holy grail” in the quest for net-zero carbon emissions, even optimistic projections suggest its practical application in a narrowbody airliner will happen no sooner than 2035. Conversely, increased production and consumption of SAF offers the potential for immediate and sustained reduction of CO² without the need for investing in new aircraft, new engines, costly engine technology maturation programs, or major infrastructure projects.

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