About SAF Investor
Climate change is happening and every industry needs to cut carbon emissions. This is particularly true for aviation – a global fast-growing industry. However, aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Although there are exciting developments with electric and hydrogen-power aircraft, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is critical to aviation becoming net-zero by 2050.
IATA estimates that SAF will contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed.
SAF is not perfect, but the world does not have time to wait for a perfect solution.
SAF also only works when the feedstock is genuinely sustainable and production and logistics are made as environmentally friendly as possible.
To help aviation get to JetZero, SAF production needs to ramp up quickly. SAF Investor launched in 2022 when SAF accounted for less than 1% of all jet fuel – around 300m litres. By 2050 airlines will need 450bn litres. This is achievable. In fact, we see it happening faster as more feedstocks are added and new technology makes production more efficient (but not everyone agrees with this).
IATA SAF production forecast
2019: 25m litres
2020: 62.5m litres
2021: 100m litres
2022E: 300m-450m litres
2030 Target: 30bn litres
2050 Target: 450bn litres
Source: IATA
Our aim is to inform and bring together innovators, producers, capital, customers, airports and other stakeholders who need to work together to make SAF production happen.
Many airlines have committed to using a SAF as a percentage of fuel use by 2030.
Airlines SAF commitments 2030
Air France – 10% (63% in 2050)
Delta – 10% roughly 400m gallons
IAG (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus) – 10%
Ryanair – 12.5%
JetBlue – 10%
Shell has also committed to having 10% of global aviation fuel sales as SAF by 2030.
Source SAF Investor
At the moment SAF can only be used as a blend but all of the major aircraft and engine manufacturers have committed to 100% SAF flights.
The European Union also has targets:
EU Fit for 55
2025: 2%
2030: 5%
2035: 20%
2040: 32%
2045: 38%
2050: 63%
Our team
Alasdair Whyte, editor
Alasdair has been an aviation journalist since 1999. In 2010 he was one of the launch team of Corporate Jet Investor and Helicopter Investor. He was also one of the Co-founders of Revolution.Aero – which focuses on the future of flight – in 2018.
He was also editor and publisher of Airfinance Journal between 2001 and 2010.
[email protected]
Louisa Whyte, managing director
Louisa is managing director of Specialist Insight – which runs Corporate Jet Investor, Helicopter Investor, Revolution.Aero and other specialist events and media.
Louisa has managed and organised leading aviation events since 2000. Before founding Corporate Jet Investor, she led the growth of Airfinance Journal Conferences around the world.
[email protected]
