Due to its advantages in terms of renewability and emission reduction, biodiesel has become an important direction of energy transition in various transportation sectors. Compared to regular petrochemical diesel, biodiesel is superior in fuel performance, lubricating properties and renewability, and can significantly reduce the emission of toxic substances such as greenhouse gases, sulfur and aromatics during combustion. With the gradual maturity of biodiesel production technology, it has received extensive attention driven by energy security and sustainable development.
As a low-carbon alternative to traditional aviation fuel, SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is mainly processed and synthesized from waste grease, agricultural and forestry waste, municipal waste, non-food crops, etc., so it is regarded as "renewable aviation fuel".
SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80% compared to the main jet fuel currently used, which is mainly refined from petroleum, and is an important means for the sustainable development of the aviation industry.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)** By 2050, 65% of global emissions reductions will be achieved through the use of SAF.
The production routes of bio-based SAF include oil hydrogenation (HEFA) to SAF, bio-based methanol to SAF, bio-based ethanol to SAF, and bio-based syngas Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to SAF.
In practice, the use of SAF requires little additional modification to existing aircraft and aviation infrastructure, so the technical threshold for replacing the fuel used is relatively low.
At present, many European and American countries have carried out the research, production and application of SAF driven by environmental protection needs and policies. According to professional institutions, the global market size of SAF will exceed 18 million tons in 2030, with a value of tens of billions of dollars.
Although China has great advantages in the distribution range and availability of SAF raw materials, there are still obstacles in the development of technology and production capacity. In 2023, with the vigorous development of the domestic green hydrogen industry, the production of ESAF from green hydrogen will begin to enter the planning of relevant enterprises as a decarbonization path with greater development space, and the output value of the project will exceed one million tons.
In April 2023, Spring Airlines signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Airbus on green and sustainable development. On May 9, Spring Airlines welcomed an A320neo SAF aircraft for the first time from the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Center.
In July 2023, signed a contract for the Tacheng 1.2 million kW wind power hydrogen production to synthesize green aviation kerosene project, which plans to build 1.2 million kW of wind power in the Tacheng area of Xinjiang, and convert the green hydrogen into high value-added green aviation kerosene after producing green hydrogen. The key technologies and equipment of the project are fully autonomous, and after completion, it will become the world's first carbon dioxide and green hydrogen synthesis of 10,000-ton green aviation kerosene demonstration project.
In August 2023, Kyrgyzstan Electric Co., Ltd. released the "hydrogen-based green energy" industrial chain plan of "green hydrogen consumption of green electricity and hydrogen-based green energy carrying green hydrogen", and it is expected that by 2030, the total scale of hydrogen-based green energy products of Kyrgyzstan Electric Co., Ltd. will reach an annual output of 1.62 million tons of green ammonia, 800,000 tons of green methanol and 300,000 tons of green aviation coal.
In September 2023, the Dulbert Wind and Solar Hydrogen to Aviation Fuel Project in Heilongjiang Province was signed, and the overall planning of the project is a leading domestic million-kilowatt "green power (wind power, photovoltaic) + green hydrogen + green aviation coal" integrated green innovation demonstration project, 1The 2GW wind and solar new energy hydrogen production and 150,000 tons of green aviation fuel project is expected to have a total investment of 12 billion yuan, an annual output value of 3 billion yuan, and a tax revenue of 500 million yuan to the local government.
In October 2023, Elion Group signed a contract with the 3.5 million kilowatt three-dimensional wind, solar, and hydrogen sand control integrated demonstration project for aviation fuel production, with a total investment of 2543.3 billion yuan, the construction of a zero-carbon industrial base for the integrated development of desertification prevention and control and new energy, and the implementation of 1 million acres of border forest belt + 3 in the Yili Alxa base5GW three-dimensional ecological wind and solar hydrogen sand control + 300,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project. The construction period of the project is from March 2024 to July 2025, and after the completion of the project, it can increase the annual income by 5.8 billion yuan.
In November 2023, and Airbus signed a letter of intent to cooperate in the fields of sustainable aviation fuel industry chain and renewable energy** to build a SAF fuel industry chain that meets international standards and has sustainable development capabilities.
In November 2023, China Energy Construction Baicheng Renewable Green Energy Integration Project was signed, with a total investment of about 26 billion yuan, which will reach a production base with an annual output of 300,000 tons of green aviation fuel and 300,000 tons of green methanol.
In November 2023, the Bayannur Luzhu Biomass Zero-Carbon Industrial Park project was signed, planning to build the country's first Luzhu Biomass Zero-Carbon Industrial Park, bringing together wind, solar green power, green hydrogen, green aviation coal and other projects to achieve a carbon-negative economy in the park.
In December 2023, the Qiqihar 10,000-ton green aviation coal demonstration project was launched, using the internationally initiated Tsinghua University CO2AF patented technology, which is currently the largest AC off-grid hydrogen production project in China, with an annual output of 10,000 tons of green aviation coal.
In December 2023, Inner Mongolia Jiutai Group signed a contract with Honeywell Global Oil Co., Ltd. to cooperate on 300,000 tons of green methanol to 100,000 tons of green aviation kerosene and methanol to olefin catalysts.
In December 2023, Shanghai Lanze Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Quyang County, Baoding City, Hebei Province, with an annual output of 200,000 tons of green aviation coal project. The project plans to invest 5 billion yuan, with a total land area of 1,000 acres, and the project will carry out the construction of a green aviation coal production base and jointly build a green and low-carbon energy industrial base.
At present, China's SAF market is still in the early stage of development, and most of the projects planned to produce SAF are built as one of the downstream applications of green hydrogen production, and the actual production capacity is low.
Some experts said that as a policy-driven industry, China's path to SAF development is still unclear, and the laws, policies and systems issued by the Civil Aviation Administration and other departments are not perfect.
The "2030 Carbon Peak Action Plan" issued in October 2021 pointed out that we will vigorously promote the replacement of traditional fuels such as advanced bio-based liquid fuels and SAF, and improve the energy efficiency of end-use fuel products.
The 14th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development, issued in June 2022, proposes to vigorously develop non-food biomass liquid fuels. Support the research and development, promotion and use of advanced technology and equipment in the fields of biodiesel and bio-aviation kerosene.
Historically, policies have only supported its development, but have not set out detailed, clear, and realistic sustainability criteria.
On July 12, 2023, the Aircraft Airworthiness Certification Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the industry standards "Sustainability Requirements for Aviation Alternative Fuels (Draft for Comments)" and "Concentration Test Methods for Toxic Gases Produced by the Combustion of Non-metallic Materials in the Cabin (Draft for Comments)", which has taken an important step towards the establishment of China's SAF sustainable certification system, filled the gap in domestic standards, and established an important technical foundation for the in-depth development of the industry.
In the long run, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will be a critical path to sustainability in the aviation industry. Given the severity of global climate change, it has become imperative for the aviation industry to reduce carbon emissions, and the global demand for low-emission jet fuel alternatives continues to rise.
Technological progress plays a key role in reducing SAF production costs, improving fuel energy density and combustion efficiency, and with the continuous development of the SAF industry, more companies will be involved in the production, sales and application of SAF, so as to build a complete industrial chain. This will not only help reduce SAF's production costs and enhance market competitiveness, but will also further promote the sustainable development of the industry.
*: Hydrogen Enlightens the Future Network; Author: An Yi).