Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is made from sustainable and renewable sources that produce significant CO2 reductions compared with fossil jet fuels.
SAF is not derived from fossil-based oil or gas, and therefore has a lower carbon impact across its lifecycle. Instead, it is made by refining organic or waste substances, or created synthetically, which means it is made from captured carbon dioxide and renewable or zero carbon electricity.
SAF can still emit carbon when burned during flight, but because it’s produced from carbon that has already been captured from the air – either mechanically or by plants, or by other industrial processes that produce waste – it’s an important step towards achieving net zero carbon emissions.
Currently regulations state that SAF can be used when they are blended with traditional jet fuel (kerosene), up to a maximum of 50%.
Hundreds of thousands of flights have already taken off fuelled by SAF, and we think it could cut carbon emissions by around 80%, compared to conventional fossil-based jet fuels. Alternative fuels will play an important role in ensuring we can keep enjoying the benefits of aviation, while achieving a net zero carbon future.