Production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2023 doubled to 600 million liters versus last year, but it accounted for just 3 percent of the overall output of renewable fuel worldwide, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported Friday. The group also projected that the production of SAF will triple next year to 1.875 billion liters, accounting for only 0.53 percent of aviation’s fuel needs and 6 percent of all renewable fuel capacity. IATA attributes the small percentage of SAF output to the allocation of other renewable fuels coming online this year.
“This allocation limits SAF supply and keeps prices high,” said IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “Aviation needs between 25 percent and 30 percent of renewable fuel production capacity for SAF. At those levels, aviation will be on the trajectory needed to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Until such levels are reached, we will continue missing huge opportunities to advance aviation’s decarbonization. It is government policy that will make the difference. Governments must prioritize policies to incentivize the scaling-up of SAF production and to diversify feedstocks with those available locally.”
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