Sustainable aviation fuel technologies, costs, emissions, policies, and markets: A critical review

This critical review comprehensively assesses the current landscape of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies, their associated costs, emissions profiles, policy implications, and market dynamics. This review highlights several key findings regarding bio-jet fuels as a low-carbon emission alternative to traditional jet fuel. First, the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) technology stands out, boasting the highest possible technology readiness level (TRL) and fuel readiness level (FRL) of 9, indicating its advanced stage of development and readiness for commercial deployment. Second, most bio-jet fuel production technologies entail costs averaging at least 120% higher than conventional fossil-based jet fuel while achieving emissions reductions of at least 27%. Despite these high costs, only 38% of existing policies provide monetary incentives to SAF producers, resulting in SAF production operating at only 3.5% of its total potential capacity. Consequently, the paper highlights open research questions at the intersection of SAF technology development, policy, and market. •SAF costs are 120%–700% higher than fossil-based jet fuel costs.•SAF reduces CO2 emissions between 27% and 87%.•The lack of producer incentives poses a significant hurdle to SAF adoption.•A large gap between current SAF demand and net-zero by 2050 projections.•Identifies research directions at the nexus of SAF technology, markets, and policy.