Technical, economic and ecological assessment of European sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production

Abstract

Multiple options for sustainable alternatives to fossil kerosene have been assessed. The route using biomass gasification, hotgas cleaning, hydrogen addition (derived from water electrolysis using renewable power), Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and product upgrading towards ASTM D7566 certified SAF has technical, economic and environmental advantages to be discussed in detail. The technical assessment shows carbon resp. energy efficiency of fuel production at 61% resp. 55%. The economic assessment of brown-field installations in Finland predicts costs in the range of 1.00 €.2019/l. For the evaluation of 200 MW.th biomass plus 160.2 MW.e grid power plant size, an electricity price and biomass price of 42 €.2019/t and 51 €.2019/MWh were assumed, respectively. The environmental assessment shows a global warming potential reduction of 91% (corresponds to 8.8 g.CO2-eq./MJ.Fuel,LHV) compared to fossil fuel using Finnish wind energy and biomass residues, far better than the required 65% GWP reduction of the European RED II regulation. Based on the techno-economic and environmental assessment of the preferred FT route, a European deployment potential between 10 and 60 Mt/a SAF seems achievable in early 2030 years. The authors propose to implement appropriate regulation with high urgency.