International Momentum
Worldwide expansion of sustainable aviation fuel SAF is accelerating. The European Union and United Kingdom have started mandatory blending, while Japan targets ten percent by 2030. Clear targets unlock investment by giving producers predictable offtake. Korea is preparing to join this leadership circle with a draft road map released in September.
Korea Road Map
Korea plans a one percent SAF blend from 2027, rising to as much as ten percent by 2035. The staged approach gives refiners and technology firms time to scale capacity and build certified feedstock supply. A little discussed feature is potential credit trading among airlines, a flexibility that can lower early compliance costs while ensuring aggregate climate progress.
Beyond Used Cooking Oil
Most commercial SAF today relies on hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids from used cooking oil. Analysts at Argus expect this pathway to dominate until 2030, yet waste oil volume is finite. Korea is therefore evaluating additional routes:
· Fischer Tropsch conversion of agricultural residues
· Alcohol to jet upgrading of domestic bioethanol
· Power to liquids synthesis using captured carbon and renewable hydrogen
Diversifying pathways can insulate supply and create opportunities for the nations advanced chemical sector.
Revenue Guarantees Encourage Innovation
The United Kingdom introduced a revenue guarantee that cushions producers if market prices fall and recovers funds when they rise. Economists note that such symmetrical guarantees mimic a public private hedge, delivering stability without open ended subsidies. A similar mechanism could accelerate Korean deployment by easing project financing.
Conclusion
With clear targets, flexible compliance tools, diversified technologies, and creative price guarantees, Asia can foster a vibrant SAF ecosystem that supports aviation growth and advances global climate goals.