Jetting ahead: Fresh insights propel sustainable aviation

Thanks to new momentum across research, policy and industry, sustainable aviation in Australia has taken off in the last year. The 2024 SAF State of Play Report provides an update on the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sector following the release of the CSIRO-Boeing SAF Roadmap in 2023.

SAF is produced from renewable sources. These are called feedstocks, and include agricultural waste, animal fats and vegetable oils. Their use significantly reduces carbon emissions over the fuel's lifecycle.

The report tracks the developments and challenges across policy, research and development (R&D) and industry collaboration. The results emphasize that continued research and cross-sector collaboration are crucial for scaling SAF production and adoption.

It also underscores that stable, long-term policies and dedicated R&D investment will drive Australia's competitiveness in the global SAF market.

The report also draws on insights taken from a roundtable of 40 leaders from 28 Australian research, industry and government organizations. From the impact of cost-of-living pressures to innovative feedstock options, the discussions mapped out critical steps for advancing Australia's SAF ecosystem.

Kimberly Camrass is the Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Sustainability lead. She emphasizes the acceleration of progress since 2023. It's been a year since CSIRO and Boeing produced a joint Roadmap, and Kimberly sees significant progress has been made in sustainable aviation across Australia in that time.

"Several projects are progressing towards blending and production of SAF, federal and state governments continue supportive policy development, and the finance sector is working with industry on innovative funding approaches," says Kimberly.

"Our latest SAF report builds upon our 35 years of joint research collaboration with CSIRO which has led to significant aerospace advances, particularly with regards to sustainability."

These projects focus on developing viable pathways for SAF production, supporting emissions reductions and aligning Australia's aviation industry with global sustainability goals.

Max Temminghoff is Associate Director at CSIRO Futures.

"Our work with industry partners is showing early success, and it's clear that ongoing collaboration will drive the real impact Australia needs in SAF production and adoption," he says.

Pathways to acceleration

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is working collaboratively with industry partners on R&D projects that aim to advance SAF solutions, with a focus on feedstocks and technologies.

Harnessing biofuels without impacting food security: Australia's natural advantages, abundant feedstocks and advanced research capabilities, underscore its potential to play a key role in the SAF value chain. In partnership with Nufarm, we're using novel technology developed by us. It can produce oil suitable for conversion to fuel from fast growing biomass crops such as sugarcane and sorghum. This breakthrough is advancing sustainable biofuel production without compromising food security.

A centralized, evidence-based platform for low-carbon liquid fuels: With the Australian Jet Zero Council, we're developing a trusted, evidence-based platform to empower stakeholders across the low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLF) value chain. The platform will offer transparent resources, support informed decision-making, and enhance communication around SAF and other LCLFs. By improving accessibility to reliable information, it aims to build confidence and foster collaboration among industry players.

Quantifying the carbon reduction potential of Australian canola: Building on two lifecycle assessment studies conducted in partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), we're evaluating the carbon reduction credentials of locally grown canola. This research aims to provide robust data to validate canola's potential as a feedstock for sustainable fuel production, ensuring the industry meets stringent environmental standards.

Exploring Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technology opportunities: Leveraging expertise in carbon capture and green hydrogen, we're working with industry to assess the feasibility and scalability of Power-to-Liquid fuel technologies in Australia. These technologies, which convert captured CO₂ and green hydrogen into liquid fuels, are poised to play a significant role in decarbonizing aviation.

Through these partnerships, we're helping coordinate a connected SAF ecosystem. One that leverages local feedstocks, sustainability credentials, accelerates technology adoption and integrates cross-industry resources to strengthen Australia's position in the global SAF landscape.

Provided by CSIRO