Boeing expands global efforts to increase SAF production

Boeing (NYSE: BA) is accelerating its global efforts to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which serve as the aviation industry's most important strategy to reduce current emissions in the future.

 Areas of focus include Boeing's efforts to catalyze collaboration, research and policy development around SAF, which can reduce life cycle CO ₂ by up to 85%.

"We are deepening our collaborative work around the world toward a world with more SAF," said Chris Raymond, Boeing Chief Sustainability Officer. “SAF has the greatest potential to reduce aviation emissions and we are focused on continuing to innovate and collaborate to unlock sustainable aviation fuel production around the world.”

The main challenges to increased use of SAF are limited supply and high cost. Current SAF usage represents 0.1% of global jet fuel demand.

In the lead-up to COP28, Boeing worked together to:

Bring together energy producers and aviation leaders in the UAE to form a consortium called Air-CRAFT to accelerate the research, scale-up and production of advanced and renewable aviation fuels in the country and beyond.

Launch an initiative with the United States to catalyze the development and use of SAF among member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Announce a collaboration with Zero Petroleum to test and analyze the next generation of technologies to accelerate the supply of SAF.

Support discussions at the Third ICAO Alternative Fuels for Aviation Conference, where governments from more than 100 countries set a target that aviation fuel in 2030 should be 5% less carbon-intensive than conventional jet fuel.

Join the Corporate Coalition for Innovation and Technology towards Net Zero (CCITNZ), a cross-sector business alliance dedicated to helping countries meet decarbonization and climate change goals through innovation and technology.

Provide technical experience on the first 100% SAF flight across the Atlantic in a commercial aircraft: a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It was a project led by Virgin Atlantic and funded by the UK Department of Transport.

Sign an agreement with Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company, to advance and support the development and adoption of SAF policies in the UAE and beyond.

Boeing looks to build on this momentum from COP28 and continue its focus on helping scale SAF globally through:

Industry Collaboration and Policy Advocacy: Boeing continues to work with consulting firms, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations to conduct studies in more than a dozen countries to identify viable pathways for locally produced SAF, using local feedstock solutions. A collaboration with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials explores SAF raw materials opportunities in Southeast Asia, Ethiopia, South Africa and Brazil.

Investments in product compatibility work: Boeing is mobilizing its supply chain to complete the necessary testing to ensure that Boeing commercial airplanes are 100% SAF compatible by 2030.

SAF Purchases: Starting in 2022, Boeing has agreements to purchase 7.6 million gallons of SAF for its commercial aircraft operations in the United States.

Advancing renewables like SAF is one of four strategic drivers Boeing is pursuing to support the commercial aviation industry's decarbonization goals. The other strategies are fleet renewal, advanced technology and operational efficiency.