Turning Challenge into Opportunity 2025

Insights from off-airport SAF value chain – downstream Once SAF is produced, it needs to be blended with conventional jet fuel and delivered to airports, often over long distances, for uplift in aircraft. The length and complexity of the value chain can expose producers and suppliers to fragmented logistics, limited pipeline access and evolving regulatory standards – ultimately with an impact on SAF quality, delivery and price. These off- airport challenges can introduce significant friction and uncertainty. Addressing these barriers is essential for ensuring that sustainable fuel can reliably and efficiently make its way to the airport gate, where additional infrastructure hurdles often await. The focus of this section is on downstream infrastructure taking SAF from its production site to its usage point. Off-airport SAF supply chain mapping FIGURE 1 Oil refineryRail Truck SAF refinery Pipeline BargeRail Truck Pipeline BargeBlending To Figure 2Intermediate fuel storage facilities Insight: Blending points and quality control What we heard Blending SAF with conventional jet fuel, required by technical fuel specifications, can occur at multiple points, usually before entering the airport environment. Blending needs to meet specific quality assurance requirements and recommendations, such as those set out by the Energy Institute’s EI 1533 standard.7 These include directions on the inclusion of additives, issuance of refinery certificates of quality, sampling, settling time and product release, among other areas, which all require dedicated infrastructure, capabilities and skills. Often it is necessary to have additional blending terminals outside of refineries to provide greater flexibility to fuel systems and improve logistics and resilience. However, blending at these sites also needs to comply with the same quality and safety regulations prescribed by fuel specifications and quality guidelines.Why it matters SAF producers/suppliers and jet fuel producers/ suppliers may not be the same entity, hence multiple parties could be involved in this necessary blending step. Blending points and storage facilities face challenges accommodating the infrastructure needs of SAF producers, given the high cost of SAF storage in incumbent infrastructure. In addition, SAF quality assurance is complex, as a single off-spec batch can ground flights. It is preferable if blending takes place as close as possible to the neat SAF production point or at refineries; but not all SAF producers can accommodate that, or may not be in a position to own their own jet fuel production and blending infrastructure, along with associated capabilities. Smart solutions Collaboration among key ecosystem members, including policy-makers, fuel producers and airlines, is needed to discuss financial support and incentives (e.g. infrastructure grants) that make dedicated SAF storage and blending investments more viable for blending and storage providers. Turning Challenge into Opportunity: Supplier Voices from Heavy-Emitting Sectors 8