Lexington: A new study in Kentucky suggests that corn oil has the lowest risk profile among common materials for making Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), an alternative to traditional jet fuel, reports University of Kentucky.
The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UK CAER) and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) completed a risk assessment on various fats, oils, and greases (FOG) that could be used to produce SAF in the Commonwealth. The feedstocks reviewed included soybean oil, corn oil, distillers corn oil, animal fats, and used cooking grease (yellow and brown grease).
The assessment identified corn oil as the safest option for producing SAF in Kentucky due to its low overall risk profile, said Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, Ph.D., associate director of CAER’s Sustainable and Alternative Fuels Research Group. He added that these findings can guide stakeholders looking to invest in SAF-related projects in the state.
SAF, an alternative to conventional jet fuel, can be made from plant oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking grease. It can be blended with up to 50% traditional jet fuel for commercial aircraft use and represents a global market potential of $80 billion by 2035. Jet fuel is Kentucky’s fourth most consumed fuel and is critical for its three major air hubs, as well as for national defense aviation operations at the Kentucky National Guard, Fort Knox, and Fort Campbell.
“As the aviation industry seeks sustainable and diversified fuel sources, SAF presents an opportunity for economic development in Kentucky,” said Kenya Stump, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy. “It creates new markets for agricultural products, encourages investment in processing infrastructure, and strengthens local fuel production, supporting Kentucky’s Energy Security Plan.”
The study focused on soybean oil, corn oil, distillers corn oil, animal fats, yellow grease (used cooking oil), and brown grease (FOG from grease traps or wastewater treatment plants). Researchers reviewed six types of risk based on U.S. Department of Energy standards to help investors understand supply chain and operational risks when using biomass feedstocks.
“Supplier and supply chain risks were the highest across the feedstocks,” said Santillan-Jimenez. “Yellow and brown grease had high risks in both categories. Soybean oil showed high supplier risk but medium supply chain risk. Corn oil, however, had medium supplier risk and low supply chain risk, making it the safest feedstock overall for SAF production in Kentucky.”
