There is strong sector and governmental interest in decarbonising the aviation sector. Lower carbon drop-in fuels are of significant interest as they offer benefits from continued use of existing aviation sector technologies. Recent reports and policy has suggested wastes may provide a lower cost source of raw material for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. However, technological and economic challenges at SAF production projects have been reported, and concerns raised over costs, achievable levels of decarbonisation and impacts on the waste sector.
This session will provide a summary of the findings of work commissioned by ESA and undertaken by SLR in 2024 to compare SAF production from residual wastes with other residual waste management options, including landfill, convention energy from waste plants, and the difference that EfW with carbon capture will make.
The work considers market, service, costs, carbon impacts and technology issues, as well as the influence of ETS and what this might all mean in relation to the waste hierarchy, the delivery of sanitary waste disposal, and greenhouse gas emissions in a broader sense.