KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, US — US sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and imports totaled 93 million gallons through September 2024, up from about 25 million gallons for all of 2023, according to the latest progress report released by the US government.
Domestic consumption increased to 26 million gallons in 2023 from 5 million gallons in 2021.
The 2021-2024 Progress Report is based on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap, which aims to scale up SAF production to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50%; produce 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030; and support 100% of domestic aviation fuel demand by 2050. The Progress Report, issued by the US Department of Energy, US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, also defines metrics and baselines progress toward these goals.
SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks that reduces emissions from air transportation. It can be made from oils, municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats and greases.
Most of the US-produced SAF is predominantly based on conversion of fat, oil and grease feedstocks through the hydro processed esters and fatty acids process, according to the progress report.
Life cycle GHG reductions range between 50% and 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, the report said. For 2023, this corresponded to a reduction in domestic GHG emissions of 200,000 tonnes of CO2.
Based on a database of active projects, the report said between 2.6 billion and 4.9 billion gallons per year of SAF may be produced by 2030. Most of this volume is renewable diesel capacity that could be shifted to SAF under favorable policy and market conditions, the report said.
Historically, very little renewable diesel production has shifted to SAF. The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative is tracking more than 2 billion gallons per year of domestic SAF production intent by the end of 2028 and is working with 200 potential SAF producers on their commercialization efforts.