About this Training Course
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is rapidly emerging as the cornerstone of aviation decarbonisation, driven by regulatory mandates, airline net-zero commitments, and growing demand for low-carbon travel. Yet despite strong demand signals, SAF deployment remains constrained by feedstock availability, certification complexity, refinery integration challenges, pricing uncertainty, and fragmented policy frameworks. This training course is designed to cut through the noise and provide a grounded, real-world understanding of how SAF markets function today, and where they are heading.
Over 3-days, participants gain a practical, end-to-end view of the SAF value chain, from production pathways and feedstock strategies through refinery co-processing realities, lifecycle emissions integrity, certification and compliance requirements, and the mechanics of SAF certificates and Book-and-Claim systems. The programme bridges technical, commercial, and regulatory perspectives, enabling participants to understand trade-offs between SAF and renewable diesel, operational constraints within existing refineries, and the implications of policy instruments such as CORSIA, EU ETS, and national quota systems.
The course goes beyond theory to focus on execution in Sustainable Aviation Fuel markets: SAF pricing structures, offtake negotiations, forecasting methodologies, digital MRV systems, and access to project and blended finance. Using case-based discussions and real market examples, participants leave with a clear framework for making informed SAF investment, sourcing, and go-to-market decisions, tailored to different regional and regulatory contexts, including Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and how does it cut aviation emissions?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a drop-in jet fuel made from non-fossil sources. Airlines blend it with conventional Jet A/A-1 within approved limits. It reduces lifecycle emissions depending on feedstock, pathway, and energy inputs.
How do Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pathways like HEFA, FT, AtJ, and eSAF/PtL differ?
A Sustainable Aviation Fuel pathway defines how feedstock becomes jet fuel. HEFA uses fats and oils but faces supply limits. FT and AtJ use broader biomass or alcohol inputs but require more complex plants. eSAF/PtL uses captured CO₂ and green hydrogen and depends on renewable power.
Which feedstocks can supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and what sustainability risks matter most?
Feedstocks for Sustainable Aviation Fuel include used cooking oil, tallow, waste biomass, and CO₂. Because supply is limited, competition and price swings are common. In addition, fraud risks increase when origin data is unclear. Therefore, strong traceability, audited chain-of-custody systems, and clear ownership of environmental attributes are essential.
How do analysts calculate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) lifecycle emissions, and what changes the result?
Most systems use a well-to-wake boundary. That scope covers feedstock sourcing, processing, transport, blending, and combustion. Results shift when electricity, heat, or hydrogen comes from high- or low-carbon sources. They also shift with plant efficiency, transport distance, and how models treat co-products. Good programs require consistent methodology, strong data quality, and third-party verification.
What is the difference between ASTM fuel approval and sustainability certification (ISCC/RSB/CORSIA)?
Fuel approval focuses on safety and performance in aircraft and fueling systems. ASTM-based specifications set blend limits and quality requirements for each approved SAF type. Sustainability schemes such as ISCC or RSB focus on feedstock eligibility, traceability, and sustainability criteria. CORSIA adds rules for international aviation claims and lifecycle emissions thresholds. In practice, you need fuel quality for operation and certification for credible climate reporting.
What is Book-and-Claim, and how do Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates relate to Scope 1 vs Scope 3?
Book-and-Claim lets buyers purchase the verified attribute of SAF without taking physical delivery at a specific airport. A registry issues and tracks certificates to prevent double counting. Companies then apply the claim under defined rules, often tied to Scope 1 or Scope 3 boundaries. High-integrity systems use measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), plus clear retirement rules in the registry.
Why does Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) cost more than conventional jet fuel, and what drives the SAF premium?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel costs more due to feedstock constraints, capital-intensive production, hydrogen requirements, and certification costs. Policy incentives and long-term offtake agreements help manage price risk and premium exposure.
How does Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) compare with renewable diesel in a refinery, and why does it matter?
Refiners often choose between renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel when sharing feedstocks or equipment. The decision depends on yield, margins, compliance value, and hydrogen constraints.
What policies and trends will shape Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scaling over the next decade?
Demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel is driven by mandates, incentives, and compliance schemes such as CORSIA and the EU ETS. Ticket systems and digital MRV frameworks are expanding. Emerging pathways and blended finance structures will influence long-term scale-up.