The four-year research study is a collaboration between Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick. It will examine potential avenues for manufacturing SAF in Ireland.
It is internationally recognised that SAF will play a crucial role in achieving the aviation industry's goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.To meet this objective, the European Commission has introduced legislation obliging fuel suppliers to blend increasing levels of SAF in kerosene for supply at EU airports, commencing with 2% in 2025.However, the current SAF supply falls significantly short of the 2025 target, making the scale-up of SAF production critical.
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 will commence in September 2024 and will be led by Associate Professor Stephen Dooley and Assistant Professor Mohammad Reza Ghanni of Trinity College Dublin, along with Professors Luuk Van der Wielen and Vivek Ranade of the University of Limerick.
Karl Grifin, Vice-Chair of ALI said the long-term investment is an example of its members' commitment to supporting the wider aviation industry to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050."
Sustainable aviation fuels are widely regarded as the essential measure to reduce CO2 emissions from the aviation sector. However, the current SAF supply represents just 0.05% per cent of global aviation fuel utilisation. The right policies and information must be put in place, to allow this number to be massively increased which is why our work in this regard is so important. Our research will provide matter of fact of information needed to enable SAF production in Ireland.
Professor Stephen Dooley, School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin said:
‘Sustainable Aviation fuels must be produced from waste plant matter and renewable energy. Ireland has vast potential to produce both these building blocks, and therefore to produce SAFs indigenous to Ireland.’
The collaborative research between ALI, University of Limerick and Trinity College Dublin will assess supply chains and SAF production technology scenarios all around Ireland to learn the most important things; how much SAF can be produced, where, at what cost, and at what CO2 saving.
The project is in line with the recommendations of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce, the Irish Climate Action Plan and related strategies.
More information is available here