Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap
Aviation is one of the most challenging industries to decarbonise, contributing 2.5% of the world’s total carbon emissions. The aviation industry is committed to emissions reduction, but without the option of electrification or alternative fuels in the near term, particularly for long-haul segments, commercial airlines and defence forces will need to rely on the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to reduce net emissions. These fuels are derived from a range of feedstocks such as biomass, waste products, natural oils and fats, other carbon sources and hydrogen.
CSIRO Futures and the Toward Net Zero Mission are collaborating with Boeing to develop a roadmap for cost-effective production of SAF. CSIRO is developing a range of tools and systems for optimising biomass production as well as fuel processing technologies. Our science can support sustainable land use and SAF feedstock production potential across the APAC region, with primary focus on Australia and New Zealand. Australia could play a key role, both as a source of feedstocks and as a SAF producer, with Australia already producing significant quantities of feedstocks exported for biofuel production.
The SAF roadmap will be available in the second half of 2023.