ATAG Report Outlines Country-wide Opportunities for Producing Sustainable Aviation Biofuels

The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) recently released a report titled, "Powering the Future of Flight", with the purpose of (1) illustrating the potential for sustainable aviation biofuels to be produced in countries on a worldwide scale and (2) providing "concrete examples of how some countries and the aviation industry have already made substantial progress". The aviation industry is said to have passed the stage of making test flights on a range of potential jet biofuels from different feedstocks, and the establishment of correct sustainability criteria. It has moved on to a phase of "ramping up" to get enough of low-carbon energy aviation biofuels into the mainstream fuel supply.

According to Executive Director Paul Steele (as reported by the Air Transport World website), "The report tracks progress in some key aviation biofuels projects worldwide and provides policymakers with a few examples of how they can help the deployment of biojet fuel". It recommends six steps which governments and policymakers can follow in order to help the aviation and the biofuel sectors embrace sustainable aviation biofuels: (1) foster research into new feedstock sources and refining processes, (2) minimize risk in public and private investments in aviation biofuels, (3) provide incentives for airlines to use biofuels from an early stage, (4) encourage stakeholders to commit to robust international sustainability criteria, (5) understand local green growth opportunities, and (6) establish coalitions encompassing all parts of the supply chain.

The full report can be accessed at the Air Transport World website (URL above).