US SAF production booms in 1H24

US sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and imports grew 100% during the first half of 2024 to 52m gallons compared to 26m gallons in 2023, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable identification number (RIN) values.

SAF Grand Challenge metrics dashboard published by the Department of Energy showed that during the first half of 2024, SAF in the US was predominantly based on conversion of fat, oil, and grease feedstocks through the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process.

Major producers included World Energy, Montana Renewables, Sinclair, GEVO, and Neste Oil.

According to the DoE, based on a database of active projects, between 2.6 and 4.9bn gallons per year of SAF may be produced by 2030, creating a clear pathway to achieve the SAF Grand Challenge near-term goal.

However, it added that the volume is predominantly renewable diesel (RD) capacity with the potential to be shifted towards SAF production.

The DoE warned that very little RD production has shifted towards SAF production. The DoE expects SAF production to reach above 4.9bn gallons by 2027 in the high case scenario. On the flip side, the DoE expects SAF production to stay at 2.6bn in the low case scenario.  

The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), a joint venture between DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the commercial aviation industry, is tracking more than 2bn gallons per year of SAF production intent by the end of 2028 and is working with 200 potential SAF producers on their commercialisation planning efforts.