Is Sustainable Aviation Fuel the Answer? Energy Guardians Limited Weighs In

energyguardiansltd
May 17
3 min read

Updated: Jun 6

Written by: Energy Guardians

Last Updated: May 17, 2025

At Energy Guardians Limited, we support organisations across sectors in their transition to net zero. As part of this mission, we continually assess the viability of emerging low-carbon solutions including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which is increasingly heralded as a breakthrough in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

With global scrutiny intensifying around aviation’s role in climate change, SAF has stepped into the spotlight. But is it truly a sustainable alternative to fossil-derived jet fuel? And more importantly, will it deliver the same results in performance and emissions reduction?

Let us break it down.

What Is SAF?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a liquid fuel alternative made from renewable and waste-derived sources, including:

Used cooking oil
Agricultural residues
Forestry waste
Algae and other non-food biomass
Municipal solid waste

Unlike fossil jet fuel, SAF offers the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over its lifecycle without requiring modifications to aircraft engines or fuel distribution infrastructure.

The Environmental Upside

Lower Lifecycle Emissions: SAF can cut GHG emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, depending on feedstock and production methods (IATA). This includes emissions from production, transport, and final combustion.

Drop-in Ready: SAF is compatible with existing aircraft and fuelling systems, requiring no hardware changes. This is a major advantage for scaling use without waiting for new technologies or infrastructure.

Potential to Reduce Non-CO₂ Effects: Beyond carbon, SAF may also reduce aviation-induced contrails and nitrogen oxide emissions, both of which contribute significantly to aviation’s warming effect.

Key Challenges

Feedstock Supply & Land Use: SAF production depends on the availability of sustainable feedstocks. If production scales unsustainably (e.g. using palm oil or food crops), it can compete with food systems, harm biodiversity, and cause deforestation.

High Production Costs: Currently, SAF can cost 2–3 times more than fossil jet fuel. Without policy support, tax incentives, or large-scale production improvements, the cost remains a major barrier to adoption.

Limited Market Penetration: SAF accounts for less than 0.1% of global aviation fuel use. Significant investment is still needed to meet demand projections and scale production in line with net zero ambitions.

Performance & Safety

At Energy Guardians Limited, we’ve reviewed multiple SAF trials and research studies. The findings are reassuring:

Comparable Energy Density: SAF has slightly lower energy content per kilogram, but this has no noticeable impact on performance.
Certified Safety: All SAF must meet ASTM standards and has proven safe and reliable in numerous commercial flights.
Operationally Seamless: Airlines already flying with SAF including British Airways, Lufthansa, and United, report no compromise in engine performance or maintenance.

So, Will SAF Deliver Net Zero for Aviation?

The short answer is SAF is an essential piece of the solution, but not the whole puzzle. It represents real progress toward decarbonising aviation, especially for medium- and long-haul flights where battery-electric options are not yet viable.

But the path to net zero will require a blend of solutions, including:

More efficient aircraft
Smarter flight operations
Electrification of short-haul routes
Demand-side management
Carbon pricing and regulatory support

And yes, more high-quality, sustainably sourced SAF.

How Energy Guardians Can Help

At Energy Guardians Limited, we support businesses and institutions in understanding their carbon impacts and identifying credible pathways to net zero. Whether you are in transport, logistics, education, or manufacturing, our expert consultants can: