Current production of Sustainable Aviaton Fuel (SAF) is less than 0.1pc of what the aviation industry needs to achieve its target of net zero by 2050, Willie Walsh of IATA say.
The Glasnevin born CEO of IATA made much of the few positives that can be gleaned from the slow moving SAF production status. “In 2022, SAF production tripled to 300m litres. And while critics of our industry dismiss that figure as irrelevant, it’s important to remember that airlines used every single drop costing almost $350m. With the right supportive policies, reaching 30 billion liters by 2030 is challenging but achievable. That would be about 6pc of the 450 billion liters annual production capacity we need in 2050. We think it will be the tipping point because achieving it will establish the trajectory needed to scale up for 2050.”
“Why are we not moving faster? The willingness of airlines to use SAF is definitely not the issue. As I’ve said, every drop of SAF ever produced has been purchased and used. The problem is insufficient production capacity to meet demand.”
Mr Walsh said SAF production brings job creation, local economic stimulus, and biodiversity protection. Politicians have not fulfilled their promise of stopping fossil fuel financing at COP 26. He urged governments to:
- Increase SAF production pathways and diversify feedstocks while maintaining sustainability.
- Follow the US use of tax credits to boost SAF production, which is more effective than purchase mandates.
- Establish global standards for a SAF book and claim system to allocate SAF credits fairly.
- Implement a global approach to book and claim for SAF credits to facilitate economies of scale and avoid long-distance shipping.
These measures are crucial for achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and ensuring a successful energy transition.
