Aviation is responsible for an increasing share of anthropogenic CO2 emissions.
Decarbonisation to 2050 is expected to rely on renewable jet fuel (RJF) derived from
biomass, but this represents a radical departure from the existing regime of petroleumbased
fuels. Increased market deployment will require significant cost reductions, alongside
adaptation of existing supply chains and infrastructure.
This article maps development and manufacturing efforts for six RJF production pathways
expected to reach commercialisation in the next 5-10 years. A Rapid Evidence Assessment
was conducted to evaluate the technological and commercial maturity of each pathway and
progress towards international certification, using the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels
Initiative’s Fuel Readiness Level (FRL) framework. Planned and operational facilities have
been catalogued alongside partnerships with the aviation industry. Policy and economic
factors likely to affect future development and deployment are considered.
Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (FRL 9) is the most developed pathway. It is ASTM
certified, has fuelled the majority of RJF flights to date, and is produced at three
commercial-scale facilities. Fischer-Tropsch derived fuels are moving towards the start-up of
first commercial facilities (FRL 7-8), although widespread deployment seems unlikely under
current market conditions. The Direct Sugars to Hydrocarbons conversion pathway (FRL 5-7)
is being championed by Amyris and Total in Brazil, but has yet to be demonstrated at scale.
Other pathways are in the demonstration and pilot phases (FRL 4-6).
Despite growing interest in RJF, demand and production volumes remain negligible.
Development of supportive policy is likely to be critical to future deployment.