Page 442 - DUBAI MUNICIPALITY ENGLISH PR REPORT JUNE 2024

Enterprise Explains: What is holding back wider

SAF adoption?
The use of alternative fuels is critical to meet ambitious aviation climate
targets
UAE
• Egypt RPRISE EXPLAINS
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Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has been hailed as the best near-term solution for
the aviation industry to achieve its green goals — providing about 65% of the
mitigation needed for airlines to reach net zero emissions by 2050, according to a new
report published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The report
predicts that SAF production will triple this year to 1.9 bn liters or 0.53% of aviation's
fuel needs — but how is our region faring in the switch to SAF and what’s holding us
back?
REFRESHER- SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks — raw
materials or biomass other than the traditional crude oil — that is chemically and
physically identical to conventional jet fuel, according to a previous IATA report (pdf).
Since it is a drop-in fuel — meaning it can be used in the existing fuel systems — SAF
bypasses concerns of incompatibility with existing fuelling infrastructure and can be
blended at levels between 10-15%. The feedstocks used to create SAF can vary from
cooking oil, waste, and plant oil with more possibilities being developed.
Lots of gains ahead: SAF can greatly reduce air transportation emissions by up to
94% during its life cycle compared to standard aviation fuel depending on the feedstock
and technology used, says the US Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC). SAF can also

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