New research project on Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI) has announced the funding of a new research project on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.

The Ibec group which represents the aircraft leasing industry made the announcement at the sector’s second Global Aviation Sustainability Day Conference at the Convention Centre Dublin.

The event brings together senior leaders and experts from across the aviation industry, including lessors, airlines, regulators, fuel producers, manufacturers, and financiers.

ALI said Sustainable Aviation Fuel will play a crucial role in achieving the aviation industry’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

The European Commission has introduced legislation requiring that SAF constitutes 2% of the fuel uplifted at EU airports by 2025, gradually increasing to over 70% by 2050.

However, ALI said current SAF supply falls significantly short of the 2025 target, making the scale-up of SAF production critical.

The four-year SAF research project announced today, which is a collaboration between Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick, will examine potential avenues for manufacturing SAF in Ireland.

ALI said the primary focus of the study will be to identify how Ireland can establish a sustainable and viable supply chain for SAF raw materials, while also proposing scenarios in which a substantial quantity of SAF can be produced efficiently on the island.

The study is set to begin next year and will run for four years.

It will be led by Associate Professor Stephen Dooley and Assistant Professor Mohammad Reza Ghanni of Trinity College Dublin, along with Professor Luuk Van der Wielen of the University of Limerick.

“Increasing SAF supply is a critical global challenge that is key to unlocking a sustainable future for the aviation sector,” said Marie-Louise Kelly, Chairperson of ALI.

“Our members are determined to help position Ireland as a leader in the sector by investing in research initiatives that will identify what’s needed for the scale-up of SAF.

“This research will give Ireland the opportunity to establish this leadership position in SAF production by mapping out the key data needed to establish effective supply chains,” she added.