SUSTAINABLE FUEL
D’AVIATION (SAF)

Technology under development to replace fossil kerosene in aviation

Aviation accounts for around 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions and faces a major decarbonization challenge. Among the solutions available, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are the only ones capable of immediately reducing the carbon footprint of air transport without modifying existing aircraft or infrastructure.

SAF are alternative fuels to fossil kerosene, produced from renewable sources such as biomass (waste oils, animal fats, agricultural or forestry residues), green hydrogen and biogenic CO2.

One of the certified production routes for SAF is bioethanol via the Alcohol-To-Jet (ATJ) route.

One of the main regulations at European level supporting the incorporation of SAF in aviation fuels is the ReFuel EU Aviation regulation. At present, it only authorizes the use of residues or waste products, in particular ATJ technology.

For the ATJ chain, it is therefore possible to produce SAF from sugar or starch residues.