Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are set to play a pivotal role in the aviation industry’s journey toward net-zero emissions, contributing up to 65% of the sector’s carbon reduction efforts. SAF, produced from diverse feedstocks like waste oils, fats, and non-food crops, can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% and are designed as “drop-in” solutions that can seamlessly replace conventional jet fuels. With nine biofuel pathways already certified, SAF is becoming integral to aviation’s decarbonization.
Governments and regulatory bodies are already setting ambitious targets for SAF adoption. In October 2023, the European Union implemented ReFuelEU, mandating that 2% of all aviation fuel must be SAF by 2025, with a target of 70% by 2050. Meanwhile, ICAO has called for international aviation to reduce its carbon intensity by 5% by 2030. However, despite these advances, the SAF market is still in its infancy, with current global production far from meeting future demand.
In 2023, SAF production doubled to over 0.5 million tonnes (625 million liters), but this still only represents 0.2% of total global jet fuel consumption. To meet aviation’s net-zero goals by 2050, production must surge to 500 million tonnes (625 billion liters), far exceeding the expected output of 1.5 million tonnes in 2024. Additionally, the tracking and reporting of SAF usage remains inconsistent, with varied mechanisms impacting credibility across regions.
The SAF Registry: Enhancing Accountability and Growth
To foster a transparent and fluid global SAF market, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is launching the SAF Registry. This pioneering initiative will enable the accurate accounting and reporting of SAF emissions reductions, helping to accelerate SAF adoption globally. Michael Schneider, IATA’s Assistant Director of Sustainability Programs, highlighted the SAF Registry as a “flagship initiative,” underscoring its importance to net-zero aviation.
A key feature of the SAF Registry is its compatibility with regulatory frameworks such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). This compatibility will allow airlines to meet their SAF mandates while providing transparency regarding emissions reductions to governments and regulatory authorities. Airlines will be able to purchase SAF from anywhere in the world, with the environmental attributes of each batch being tracked and assigned to the purchasing airline. This ensures accurate emissions reporting for both Scope 1 emissions (for airlines) and Scope 3 emissions (for corporate clients).
The SAF Registry is designed to be scalable and neutral regarding feedstocks and production methods, ensuring it can accommodate a wide range of SAF types and regulations. Pilots for the SAF Registry will commence in November 2024, and the full launch is expected by the second quarter of 2025. So far, 25 airlines, 15 producers, 6 governments, and 3 OEMs have already joined the pilot phase, with interest continuing to grow.
How VURDHAAN Supports the Transition to SAF
At VURDHAAN, we are deeply committed to supporting the aviation sector’s shift to sustainable fuels. We specialize in helping airlines navigate complex regulatory landscapes such as CORSIA, EU ETS, and ReFuelEU, ensuring compliance and optimizing sustainability strategies. As SAF production ramps up and the market evolves, we work closely with airlines, airports, and aviation stakeholders to adopt SAF, enhance emissions reporting, and contribute to the global goal of decarbonizing aviation.
The introduction of the SAF Registry is a crucial step toward building a transparent and standardized SAF market. With this system in place, airlines can confidently invest in SAF while ensuring compliance with emissions reduction requirements. VURDHAAN’s expertise in sustainable aviation fuels and our holistic approach to sustainability ensures that we are well-positioned to help organizations make the transition to SAF smoothly and efficiently.