After the production of sustainable aviation fuel doubled in 2023, reaching more than 600 million from 300 million in 2022, it is expected to triple in 2024 to nearly 1.9 billion liters, according to the International Air Transport Association. That amount will account for 0.53 percent of aviation’s fuel need and 6 percent of renewable fuel capacity.
“Even with that impressive growth, SAF as a portion of all renewable fuel production will only grow from 3 percent this year to 6 percent in 2024,” IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. “This allocation limits SAF supply and keeps prices high. Aviation needs between 25 percent and 30 percent of renewable fuel production capacity for SAF. At those levels, aviation will be on the trajectory needed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Demand for SAF continues to outstrip supply, with “every drop” of SAF produced having been bought and used. At least 43 airlines have already committed to use nearly 16.3 billion liters of SAF in 2030, “with more agreements being announced regularly,” according to IATA.
“Governments must prioritize policies to incentivize the scaling-up of SAF production and to diversity feedstocks with those available locally,” Walsh said.
