European leaders are urged to increase investment in synthetic aviation fuels alongside biofuels to achieve Net-Zero targets and decarbonize aviation by 2050.
Relying solely on biofuels isn’t sufficient, as noted by industry experts who call for more government support.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), derived from sources like used cooking oil or wood chips, has the potential to slash aviation emissions by 80%, making it a crucial eco-friendly option for the industry.
Also read: Plug, Airbus, Delta, and Atlanta International Airport collaborate for hydrogen study
Currently, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) constitutes a mere 0.2% of global jet fuel consumption, and it is primarily produced from organic feedstock-based biofuels.
One significant factor hindering its widespread adoption is its high cost; biofuel-based SAF typically costs three to five times more than conventional jet fuel.
According to experts, synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is significantly more expensive, with estimates suggesting it can be up to ten times pricier than traditional fuel.
“We definitely need e-SAF to bring the amount on the market which is required for the blending mandates first and then later on for 2050 to fly each and every aircraft with SAF,” Uwe Gaudig told Reuters, who works on SAF projects for engineering firm Griesemann group in Germany.