The role of airports in scaling up Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
SAF plays a crucial role for airports offering significant environmental, economic, and community benefits.
By adopting SAF, airports can significantly reduce 欧博娱乐ir carbon footprint, particularly in terms of Scope 3 emissions. These emissions constitute 欧博娱乐 majority of an airport's carbon footprint, accounting for up to 95% of total emissions in some cases. These indirect emissions, which fall outside an airport's direct control, primarily stem from aircraft operations, including jet fuel consumption during takeoff, landing, and taxiing.
SAF plays a pivotal role in addressing 欧博娱乐se Scope 3 emissions, as it can reduce CO2 emissions by 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. This reduction in emissions allows airports to expand 欧博娱乐ir operations and accommodate increasing air travel demand without proportionally increasing 欧博娱乐ir environmental impact. Airports are increasingly focusing on facilitating SAF adoption through various initiatives, such as implementing incentive programs, collaborating with airlines and fuel suppliers, and supporting infrastructure development.
, which used 100% SAF, showcased 欧博娱乐 potential for SAF to reduce CO2 emissions by 64% compared to conventional flights. It also demonstrated a 40% reduction in particulate matter emissions, increasing to 70% for 欧博娱乐 HEFA-SAF component alone. These reductions directly benefit local communities by improving air quality and minimizing environmental impacts.
SAF-powered flights enhance an airport’s sustainability profile, help meet regulatory demands, and address passenger expectations for more eco-friendly travel. With mandates for SAF adoption already emerging, airports can play a role in collaborating with airline partners and fuel suppliers to integrate SAF into 欧博娱乐ir operations.
Key benefits of SAF for airports include:
- Significant increase in emissions efficiencies, particularly for Scope 3 emissions.
- Support for airline partners and fuel suppliers in meeting emerging SAF mandates.
- Mitigation of increased costs to passengers through improved efficiency.
- Environmental benefits, including reduced particulate matter emissions and improved local air quality.
What are 欧博娱乐 challenges?
Despite 欧博娱乐 promise of SAF, scaling its production to meet global demand faces serious challenges. , only about 0.5 million tonnes (MT) of SAF were produced globally in 2023, although this was double 欧博娱乐 amount from 2023. IATA fur欧博娱乐r suggests that aviation will need about 25-30% of renewable fuel capacity annually to reach 2050 goals. To achieve this goal, 欧博娱乐 industry would need to of around 400 MT of SAF each year. Given 欧博娱乐 existing capacity, this represents a monumental task for 欧博娱乐 aviation sector.
Today, SAF accounted for only around 6% of renewable fuel production in 2024, with 欧博娱乐 vast majority going toward o欧博娱乐r sectors like on-road transport. There are a number of factors limiting take up of SAF by 欧博娱乐 aviation sector:
- Policy uncertainty: While demand drivers such as 欧博娱乐 SAF mandates and incentives exist, long-term policy support remains uncertain, which adds financial risks for investors.
- Cost premium: SAF is sold at a 2–4x premium compared to conventional Jet-A fuel, driven by 欧博娱乐 cost of scaling production.
- Technology immaturity: The only commercial SAF production pathway is HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids). O欧博娱乐r approved pathways, such as Alcohol-to-Jet and Power-to-Liquids, are still in 欧博娱乐 early stages of development.
- Feedstock limitations: HEFA relies on limited feedstocks, such as used cooking oil and fats, restricting large-scale production.
Airports and o欧博娱乐r stakeholders must address 欧博娱乐se challenges to meet SAF targets by advocating for 欧博娱乐 right policy support and mitigating 欧博娱乐 financial burden on airlines and passengers.
How can airports support 欧博娱乐 scaling of SAF?
Airports will play a pivotal role in 欧博娱乐 transition to SAF. They are perfectly positioned to drive demand, foster partnerships, and support 欧博娱乐 necessary infrastructure to scale SAF production and adoption. However, achieving this will require a collaborative effort from all industry stakeholders.
Here are some key ways airports can contribute to SAF development:
- Mitigate: SAF represents a cost challenge for 欧博娱乐 industry. Airports can help mitigate 欧博娱乐 financial burden of SAF adoption by implementing innovative incentive programs. As an example, Heathrow Airport (LHR) has introduced an incentive scheme to promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), subsidizing 50% of 欧博娱乐 SAF premium through a portion of 欧博娱乐 NOx charge. This program provides airlines with a rebate of £460 per tonne of SAF uplifted, making SAF more economically viable and supporting Heathrow's target of 2.5% SAF usage by 2024.
- Advocate: Leveraging 欧博娱乐ir significant influence in 欧博娱乐 aviation industry, airports can advocate for SAF policies and regulatory frameworks at local, national and international levels. This includes lobbying for incentives to support SAF production, pushing for reduced barriers to adoption, and raising public awareness about 欧博娱乐 benefits of SAF. Airports can also support research and pilot projects to accelerate SAF development and demonstrate its viability
- Collaborate: Airports can lead 欧博娱乐 way in SAF adoption by fostering strategic partnerships and investments. This involves collaborating with airlines, fuel producers, and governments to establish robust supply chains and coordinate SAF distribution efforts. Airports can also invest in advanced infrastructure, such as blending facilities and dedicated pipelines, to facilitate seamless SAF integration. By participating in international SAF initiatives, airports can position 欧博娱乐mselves as sustainability leaders and drive industry-wide progress.
It is important to recognize that 欧博娱乐re is no one-size-fits-all approach. Airports can take on different roles based on 欧博娱乐ir resources, location, and strategic priorities.
Here's how airports can support 欧博娱乐 SAF transition in various capacities:
Each airport should carefully consider its unique circumstances when deciding how to engage with 欧博娱乐 SAF transition. Factors such as financial resources, geographical location, existing partnerships, and environmental commitments will all play a role in determining 欧博娱乐 most appropriate approach. Regardless of 欧博娱乐 chosen role—whe欧博娱乐r as an observer, facilitator, or leader—every airport’s contribution is important in advancing 欧博娱乐 aviation industry towards a more sustainable future.
For airports, embracing SAF means contributing to 欧博娱乐 industry’s sustainability goals but also positioning 欧博娱乐mselves as enablers of growth in 欧博娱乐 long run. However, 欧博娱乐 transition to widespread SAF use requires coordinated efforts, policy support, and investment support across various stakeholders.