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Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Providing the Ethanol Industry with Great Opportunity
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
Ethanol-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is used by airlines in their effort to become more carbon neutral. With limited alternatives to power today’s modern aircraft, SAF is expected to make up the majority of emissions reductions for the aviation industry. In 2022, global production of SAF amounted to just ~80 million gallons with additional capacity being planned around the globe to meet growing demand.
Growing Demand for SAF
Countries and companies around the world are planning to increase SAF usage, setting the stage for industry development and expansion. Corporate targets of SAF usage amount to 3.3 billion gallons annually by 2030. Governments are also incentivizing or requiring SAF usage through targets (U.S. – 3 billion gallons), mandates (EU, Japan) or various credits (Canada’s Clean Fuels program, state level low-carbon markets, state level tax incentives, Clean Fuel Production Credit – 45Z).
SAF is expected to add value to ethanol of at least $1.25 to $2 per gallon.
That translates to at least $125-$200 million annually for a typical 100 mgpy ethanol plant.
How is SAF Made?
There are three ways Sustainable Aviation Fuel is made:
Ethanol is a low-carbon, scalable feedstock for the production of SAF.
The industry has steadily improved its carbon intensity through efficiency gains and now has the opportunity to make a step-change reduction with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
With reputable ETJ technology providers, ethanol is poised to supply the growing SAF market.
The vast majority of SAF produced today is through the HEFA process using fats, oils and greases.
While a proven production process, the segment faces headwinds due to feedstock supply constraints and competition for the same inputs as the growing renewable diesel industry.
New technologies being developed for SAF include gasification and electricity to liquid fuels.
Technological maturity, high capital & operating costs and large renewable energy requirements present challenges for large-scale deployment.
Carbon Capture and Sequestration creates ample opportunities for efficiencies and value creation throughout the supply chain.
- SAF is a chemically identical drop in fuel currently approved at up to 50% blend rates by ASTM International.
- Upgrading SAF drives investments: Gevo’s Net-Zero 1 South Dakota $1 billion project not possible without CCS.
- SAF diversifies ethanol’s major end markets beyond light passenger vehicles.
The GREET Model Necessary for Sustainable Airline Fuel
Utilizing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will be essential in meeting the United States’ 2030 ambitious SAF goals.
GREET® Model
The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies Model
The GREET model is an analytical tool that simulates the energy use and emissions output of various vehicle and fuel combinations.
Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the GREET model accurately accounts for technological advancements and climate-smart agricultural practices that reduce the carbon intensity of feedstock production, enhance sustainability and enable the agricultural sector to lower carbon emissions.
The current model that is used to determine Carbon Intensity for SAF is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and United Nations standard that is favored by countries like China and Russia. The ICAO has not been updated in over a decade, and actually rates petroleum-based jet fuel better than U.S. corn-grain ethanol, which is patently false.
- In the Midwest, ethanol producers are eager to utilize CCS to help lower the carbon index score of the fuel they produce as it would open new markets for their product.
- Ethanol-based Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) will be critical to the aviation industry meeting its emission-reduction goals.
- The aviation industry demands over 100 billion gallons of jet fuel annually, and that number is expected only to grow.
- The U.S. Department of Energy has established a goal of generating at least 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030 and, by 2050, sufficient SAFs to meet 100 percent of U.S. aviation fuel demand.
The American Carbon Alliance (ACA) is the leading alliance of supporters of the carbon capture industry. We seek to form one unified voice for carbon capture pipelines, ethanol producers, landowners, farmers, construction trade workers and citizens that embrace this new energy future for America. Working together, this alliance will strengthen America’s agricultural economy, ensure a future marketplace for American produced liquid fuel and improve the environment for all.