Objective

The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Road Map study investigated a possible pathway to the development and commercialisation of a sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia and New Zealand.

Description

With emissions reduction and fuel security in mind, Australia and New Zealand’s main aviation players approached CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship to work collaboratively on a study that would help plan a sustainable future for aviation fuels.

Although Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation does not make policy recommendations, the study provides critical input to strategic policy and investment decision making for both the study participants and other stakeholders such as government and industry. Economic modelling technology were used to map out future scenarios.

The report, produced in May 2011, identified several key challenges and opportunities for the new industry.

Partners

​CSIRO, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Boeing, Airbus, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Biofuels Association of Australia, Brisbane Airport, Caltex, GE, Macquarie, Office of Trade, Business & Industry, NSW Government, Pratt & Whitney, Royal Aeronautical Society, Rolls-Royce, The Climate Group, Honeywell UOP.

Achievements to date

The report released in May 2011 included the following conclusions:

• There is sufficient existing sustainable biomass to support a local bio-derived jet fuel industry
• The region is strongly positioned to produce sustainable aviation fuels
• There will be challenges in the scale-up of economically viable feedstock production
• There will be high demand among industries for biofuels
• Investment by the refining sector will be impacted by uncertainty
• Aviation fuel distribution infrastructure will not require significant modification, however access arrangements for bio-derived jet fuel suppliers will need to be established
• A local production industry for sustainable aviation fuels will bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits.

A full copy of the report is available from the link below.

Contact information

• ​http://www.csiro.au/science/Sustainable-Aviation-Fuels-Road-Map#a1  
• Contact: Paul.Graham [at] csiro.au (Paul[dot]Graham[at]csiro[dot]au)