The production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) is projected to triple to 1.9 billion liters in 2024, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced at the IATA AGM 2024 in Dubai on June 2.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, stated, “The expected tripling of SAF production in 2024 from 2023 is encouraging. SAF will provide about 65% of the mitigation needed for airlines to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
According to IATA, the global production capacity of SAF could reach 51 million tonnes by 2030 if all the announced 149 renewable fuel projects come to fruition. This increase in production capacity would need to be distributed across almost all regions.
IATA also highlighted India’s significant potential for SAF production, which could help reduce carbon emissions amid rising air travel.
To accelerate the adoption of SAF, IATA announced the establishment of the SAF Registry. This initiative aims to authoritatively account for and report emissions reductions from SAF. Already, 17 airlines, one airline group, six national authorities, three Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and one fuel producer support the effort to develop the Registry.
Walsh emphasized the critical role of SAF in aviation’s decarbonization, stating, “Airlines want more SAF and are ready to use every drop of it. The Registry will help meet the critical needs of all stakeholders as part of the global effort to ramp up SAF production.”
“Governments need a trusted system to track the quality and quantities of SAF used. SAF producers need to accurately account for what has been delivered and effectively decarbonized. Airlines must have certainty that they can claim the environmental benefits of the SAF they purchased. The Registry will meet all these needs,” he added.
