Decarbonisation Technology - February 2025 Issue

Governments worldwide are introducing policies to accelerate SAF adoption

forestry and lifecycle carbon assessments ensuring sustainability. Governments worldwide are introducing policies to accelerate SAF adoption. In the US, the SAF Grand Challenge targets 3 billion gallons of SAF production by 2030 and 35 billion by 2050, supported by significant federal investments in research and development. The EU has set SAF mandates requiring 6% of aviation fuel to be SAF by 2030, rising to 70% by 2050, with specific quotas for renewable fuels of non-biological origin. In the UK, the Government has committed to a 10% SAF target by 2030, promoting domestic production and capping HEFA usage to encourage feedstock diversification. Estimates from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) suggest that using SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% compared to fossil-derived jet fuel ( IATA, 2024 ). By diversifying feedstocks and deploying advanced technologies like FT CANS and HyCOgen, the aviation industry can stabilise supply chains, meet global SAF targets, and significantly reduce emissions. Achieving these goals will require collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and researchers. By unlocking the potential of diverse feedstocks, the SAF industry can create a more sustainable future for aviation while supporting energy security and global climate objectives. CANS and HyCOgen are trademarks of Johnson Matthey.

to ensure the correct ratio of gases. This removes the need for the WGS reactor, and operating the process in this way can comparatively increase SAF output, increasing the overall liquid product yield by around 60%. However, even this leaves a portion of the valuable carbon behind. HyCOgen technology can use the CO₂ produced during biomass gasification and convert it into syngas with the addition of H 2 . This not only prevents what could otherwise be waste CO₂ from potentially being released into the atmosphere but also transforms it into a valuable syngas feedstock for further fuel production. This capability can significantly enhance the economic viability of hybrid SAF plants, able to produce SAF from both biofeedstocks and via power-to-liquid. The overall result can be an increase in SAF output to more than 250% compared with the base case using WGS, without the need for additional feedstock carbon. Overcoming challenges and ensuring a sustainable future The potential for feedstock diversification to transform SAF production is immense, but challenges remain. Securing a consistent and scalable feedstock supply requires robust logistics and supply chain infrastructure. Additionally, achieving cost competitiveness with fossil fuels will demand economies of scale, technological advancements, and supportive policies. The environmental impacts of feedstock collection and processing must also be carefully managed, with practices such as responsible

Paul Ticehurst