Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance launches advanced, next-generation SAF procurement
The Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance has issued a first-of-its-kind RFP to boost next-gen SAF production using advanced feedstocks. Backed by over 35 companies, the effort aims to secure long-term purchasing commitments, drive investment, and scale technologies critical for post-2030 decarbonization of aviation. SAF remains aviation’s best near-term emissions solution, but next-gen options need urgent support.
On May 6, the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance released a request for proposal (RFP) to increase the supply of next-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), including power-to-liquids and those using advanced On May 6, the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance released a request for proposal (RFP) to increase the supply of next-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), including power-to-liquids and those using advanced biobased feedstocks. This first-of-its-kind aggregated SAF procurement is designed to deliver a much-needed boost to scalable long-term SAF production capacity. By focusing the RFP on next-gen fuels, SABA seeks to channel investment toward SAF with fewer feedstock constraints than today’s commercially available fuels, enabling more effective long-term decarbonization of the aviation sector.
SABA members include over 35 companies from a broad range of sectors, including finance, technology, media and entertainment, business consulting, and others seeking to reduce their aviation emissions through investment in sustainable aviation fuel. Through this RFP, SABA will facilitate 5 to 10-year forward purchasing commitments on behalf of its members at sufficient volumes to support final investment decision (FID) for a new next-generation SAF production facility.
“The SAF market is growing rapidly but the technologies we need to fully decarbonize the aviation sector are still in their infancy,” said Kim Carnahan, CEO of the Center for Green Market Activation and head of SABA Secretariat. “Investment needs to happen now if we want these technologies to scale post-2030 and keep the aviation sector on track to meet its long-term net zero goals.”
SAF represents the best near-term opportunity to decarbonize aviation as it is a drop-in fuel that can be used in today’s aircraft fleet. Despite significant recent growth, SAF still makes up less than 1% of total aviation fuels used today with the market dominated by SAF made from traditional feedstocks, such as waste oils, that face limitations to scale beyond 2030. SAF with the greatest scalability potential, using feedstocks such as renewable hydrogen, agriculture and forestry residues, and municipal solid waste, is only a small portion of the currently available SAF. Without focused investment today, these fuels may not be available in the quantities needed to meet global decarbonization objectives.
SABA is working with its corporate partners to generate the demand signal needed to give advanced SAF producers confidence to scale production. Through a book and claim model, corporate customers will be purchasing sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) that allow them to invest in SAF and capture the environmental benefits, even if the fuel does not flow directly into the planes they fly on. The travelers’ investment allows them to make a greenhouse gas emissions reduction claim on their climate disclosures, while the physical SAF flows to an aircraft operator.
“Book and claim is the bridge between the aviation industry’s sustainable fuel ambitions and scalable real-world production — and SABA is helping build it,” said Bryan Fisher, Managing Director at SABA co-founder RMI. “By mobilizing corporate demand and catalyzing investment in cutting-edge fuel production, we can fast-track innovation, expand high-integrity supply, and deliver the climate results the aviation sector urgently needs.”
Since SABA’s launch in 2021, it has helped channel approximately $200 million total SAF investment: first through a 2021 proof of concept pilot procurement for a short-term offtake period, followed by 2023-2024’s groundbreaking multi-year procurement involving 27 participants and supporting approximately 50 million gallons of SAF. Through the RFP announced today, SABA is targeting longer-term offtakes to help plants get to FID by 2026 and be operational by 2030.
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Source : Ethanol Producer Magazine
