The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a landmark study, conducted in partnership with Worley Consulting, confirming that there is sufficient sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstock available to meet the aviation industry’s net-zero CO2 emissions goal by 2050. The study’s findings are a critical step forward, providing unequivocal evidence that feedstock availability is not a barrier to decarbonization, provided that political will and investment are mobilized to accelerate production.
The study, which aligns with IATA’s Net Zero Roadmaps, outlines that achieving the industry’s target of 500 million tonnes (Mt) of SAF annually by 2050 is feasible. The necessary feedstock can be sourced from two main avenues:
Biomass: This source has the potential to produce over 300 Mt of bio-SAF annually.
Power-to-Liquid (PtL): This technology, which will be essential in bridging the gap, can contribute to the remaining volume required.
The study emphasizes that all considered feedstocks meet stringent sustainability criteria and will not lead to land-use changes.
Urgent Action Needed to Overcome Key Barriers
While feedstock is not a limiting factor, the study identifies significant challenges that must be addressed immediately to scale up SAF production. The main barriers include:
Technology Rollout: The current slow pace of adopting diverse SAF production technologies is a major hurdle. The industry currently relies heavily on HEFA technology, which converts used cooking oil into SAF, but needs to expand its reach to other sources.
Competition for Feedstock: There is significant competition for sustainable biomass from other sectors. The study calls for policies that prioritize the allocation of biomass feedstock to hard-to-abate sectors like aviation.
Infrastructure and Investment: The report stresses the need for significant investment in infrastructure to enhance the feedstock supply chain, improve conversion efficiencies, and accelerate the rollout of new production technologies, particularly PtL, which requires reliable access to low-cost renewable electricity, hydrogen, and carbon capture.
A Call to Action for Policymakers and Industry
IATA Director General Willie Walsh stated, “We now have unequivocal evidence that feedstock availability is not a barrier on the industry’s path to decarbonization. However, this will only be accomplished with a major acceleration of the SAF industry’s growth. We need shovels in the ground now.”
The report highlights that collaboration between governments, energy producers, investors, and the aviation sector is critical. Coordinated government policies are essential to de-risk investment, create a functioning SAF market, and unlock new economic opportunities. Key regions identified as critical drivers for global SAF output include North America, Brazil, Europe, India, China, and ASEAN.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist, added, “The report highlights the local and regional opportunities for SAF production to create jobs, stimulate economies, and support energy security goals. Policy certainty and cross-sector collaboration are essential to unlock the scale we need. The time to act is now—delays will only make the challenge harder.”
This study serves as a critical call to action, demonstrating that while the potential to decarbonize aviation exists, turning this potential into reality over the next 25 years requires immediate, concerted effort from all stakeholders.
