PROBLEM STATEMENT: A Darcy member from the Oil & Gas Industry asked us to analyze and assess Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) production pathways and a market background. More specifically, our member was seeking to understand the high-level market landscape and notably opportunities specific for Latin America. The initial request desired:

• A description of the market space
• A list of available companies in this space
• An understanding of availability of SAF worldwide
• Active projects
• Corporate commitments

In summary, this Innovation Concierge Request was focused on SAFs production to be developed in Latin America, more specifically, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Argentina. The deliverable also includes an introduction to SAFs, with market insights, commitments from aviation companies, a vendor framework and a map of projects worldwide.

THE INNOVATION CONCIERGE: Access the full (member only) study here: A review of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

The deliverable includes:

1. Introduction: market insights and opportunity for Latin America
2. Off-taker commitments
3. SAF considerations
4. Existing and approved conversion processes + vendors
5. Rule of Thumb for SAF economics and project planning
6. Feedstocks & Projects under development

The results of this study were clear; SAFs have had very little deployment in the southern hemisphere, but that doesn't mean there are no opportunities for deploying SAFs in the aforementioned countries. Especially as an increasing number of companies are committing to the utilization of clean fuels.

Worthy to note, there are nine developed pathways that follow ASTM references, ech of which can use different feedstocks. However, there are several considerations to have into account:

• Testing and certifying a new energy source takes time and testing to add a pathway to the list
• Costs: to date, SAF need to be blended with other aviation fuels to be economically viable
• Feedstock availability needs to be evaluated to take waste biomass sources as feedstocks. In fact, the European Renewable Energy Directive limits the use of biofuel from food and feed crops since they do not meet sustainability requirements when produced at large scale. While these methods are still under development and will likely take several years to get fully introduced in the market, government measure, such as the IRA, will be a great support to tilt the scales.

Really interested to hear your comments on the topic: questions, thoughts, feedback, related technologies, emerging vendors, partnerships, etc.

Thanks for reading!