Technological Processes in the Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Air transport expansion in recent decades has been continuous. The main aviation fuels used so far are mainly petroleum products, the annual consumption of which (2017) amounts to approximately 300 Mt. The gases emitted by the aviation industry (carbon dioxide CO₂, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide) exert a powerful pressure on the environment. The development of the aviation industry will also provoke a growing demand for fuels, and the fuels used will deepen the environmental, social and economic effects. This necessitates the implementation of the concept of sustainability of aviation transport and the replacement of conventional with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). In the coming years, the production of aviation biofuels will increase as part of the use of renewable energy and the development of the circular economy-bioeconomy. This report briefly presents the current status of developed and deployed bioreactive fuels in aviation; certified technologies; the potential raw materials that can be used and an assessment of the economic and environmental characteristics of biokerosenes. The report also indicates global initiatives and policies to promote the use of biofuels, as well as the commitments made by the airlines.