PROSPECTS OF NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES FOR SAF PRODUCTION

For very large aircraft and very long distances, low-carbon alternative fuels are at present the only viable replacement for fossil fuels, contributing towards sustainability targets before electric and hydrogen technologies will become mature. Since the interest on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) is growing, more pathways will be introduced and approved. The scientific research is mainly focusing on the production of advanced biofuels and efuels. For the advanced biofuels, beyond existing modern technologies for SAF production, novel pathways are proposed, mainly related to the conversion and fermentation of feedstocks to alcohol and then biofuels. E-fuels are produced using renewable energy for fuel synthesis. New technologies for e-fuels production, like power-to-liquid process are promising for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation. They are not yet available on the market, but there is a growing interest from various companies in establishing production facilities. Moreover, a growing enthusiasm for the electrochemical route has potential to improve e-kerosene production. In this work the characteristics together with pro and cons of the different SAFs will be discussed in order to understand the possibilities of their usage in the near future.