Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Aviation contributes 2.5% of the world’s total carbon emissions and is one of the most challenging industries to decarbonise. The aviation industry has set decarbonisation goals and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are an important stepping-stone to meet their net zero goals, and may beyond the production of synthetic fuels sourced from green hydrogen play a longer-term contribution to the fuel mix.
What is SAF?
Sustainable aviation fuels are renewable fuels produced from a range of biogenic or synthetic feedstocks, such as biomass, waste products, natural oils and fats or hydrogen. SAFs reduce emissions by avoiding the burning of fossil fuels, and replacing these with renewable inputs that have withdrawn CO2 from the atmosphere in their growth or production. To be considered sustainable, SAFs need to avoid the depletion of natural resources and be able to be resourced continually and repeatably. SAF has also been shown to reduce the formation of contrails which have an atmospheric warming effect.
Not all SAF are equal
Many factors go into calculating the emissions reductions of different SAFs. Factors such as land use change, fertiliser use, transport and process choice can reduce the carbon reductions of different fuels.
The opportunity
Australia can play a key role in the SAF value chain, both as a source of feedstocks and as a SAF producer. Australia is already producing significant quantities of feedstocks exported for biofuel production. By developing a local SAF industry, Australia can reduce emissions, create new economic benefits and begin to build liquid fuel security for aviation.
Aviation is one of Australia’s hardest-to-abate sectors, because there are few obvious ways to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. The Towards Net Zero Mission is bringing together research, industry, government, and communities to help Australia’s aviation industry halve their emissions by 2035.
By working with farmers and industry partners in fuel technologies, manufacturing, and airlines we are supporting the responsible development of the Australian SAF value chain.
Why do we need SAF?
Decarbonising aviation: Demand for air travel is expected to continue to grow, and are emissions projected to reach 10 mega tonnes a year by 2035. Without the options of electrification or alternative fuels like green hydrogen, in the near term – especially for long-haul flight which Australia relies on – aviation will need to rely on the use of SAFs to reduce emissions.
Fuel Security: Currently, Australia depends on imports for 90% of its liquid fuels. A local SAF industry provides the opportunity for Australia to not only benefit from liquid fuel security, but also build regional jobs and development across feedstock production, collection and processing.
CSIRO Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap
With numerous feedstocks and technologies to choose from, CSIRO are exploring Australia’s most suitable SAF production options to help develop sovereign SAF capability.
CSIRO, in collaboration with Boeing, is conducting an analysis that considers SAF feedstock availability and production potential in the APAC region, with a primary focus on Australia and New Zealand. The analysis will be used to develop a Roadmap that encourages the cost-effective production of SAF with feedstocks that are appropriate considering the regional context and to inform policy and government investment decisions
