Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production has doubled in 2023 compared to last year, estimates the International Air Transport Association (IATA), with production expected to triple to 1.875 billion litres in 2024.
In 2023, SAF volumes reached over 600 million litres (0.5 million tonnes), double the 300 million litres produced in 2022, and accounting for 3% of all renewable fuels produced. In 2024, production is expected to account for 0.53% of all aviation fuel requirements; 6% of renewable fuel capacity. The small percentage of SAF output as a proportion of overall renewable fuel is described as being ‘primarily due to the new capacity coming online in 2023 being allocated to other renewable fuels’.
“Aviation needs between 25% and 30% of renewable fuel production for SAF,” clarified Willie Walsh, IATA director general, highlighting that a growth of just 3% in production year-on-year “limits SAF supply and keeps prices high”.
“It is government policy that will make the difference,” he continued, affirming that “governments must prioritize policies to incentivize the scaling-up of SAF production and to diversify feedstocks with those available locally”.