The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), with support from global aerospace major Boeing, has released a study projecting that Southeast Asia’s bio-based feedstocks have the potential to meet approximately 12 percent of global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) demand by 2050. This could be a crucial contribution towards achieving the commercial aviation industry’s net-zero goal.
The study entitled “Sustainable Feedstock Assessment for SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL PRODUCTION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA“, pans 11 countries across Southeast Asia, and estimates that the region’s bio-based feedstock capacity could produce around 45.7 million tonnes of SAF annually by 2050.
Importantly, this research not only measures the potential volumes of feedstock available but also evaluates their environmental and social sustainability, considering impacts on deforestation, water resources, food security, and more.
Post-consumer and agricultural waste
According to the study, approximately 75 percent of potential SAF feedstock can be sourced from post-consumer and agricultural waste, including cassava, sugarcane, and municipal solid waste (MSW).
Rice husk and straw are identified as the most significant SAF feedstocks in the region, representing a major opportunity when compared to other agricultural residues.
Notably, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines together account for about 90 percent of the region’s SAF supply capacity.
This research affirms Southeast Asia’s diverse SAF feedstock availability and immense potential for helping meet global demand for SAF. With regional governments and industry working together on sustainability policies and infrastructure investment, scaling local production and building a regional SAF capability provides Southeast Asia an exciting opportunity to help shape the sustainable future of flight while protecting its environment and growing its economy, said Sharmine Tan, Boeing’s regional sustainability lead for Southeast Asia
Further potential to be explored
According to the authors, what is particularly exciting about this study is that it represents a first step.
With gaps in the available scientific research on different feedstocks and regions, further research is likely to uncover additional sustainable feedstock availability, opening doors for future exploration.
Our research considers not only the potential volumes of feedstock available in Southeast Asia, but also their environmental and social sustainability in terms of impacts on deforestation, water, and food security. These results can help guide future SAF feedstock supply including the exploration of other agricultural and industrial waste materials, said Arianna Baldo, RSB’s Programme Director.
RSB’s methodology is built upon its best-in-class sustainability standard, defined together with hundreds of its members – spanning industry, civil society, governments, academia and more – over many years.
A Vision for the Future
Unblended or ‘neat’ SAF, which is completely free of fossil fuels, offers the most significant potential to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions over the next 30 years, with the ability to cut emissions by up to 84 percent over the fuel’s lifecycle.
However, as of 2023, SAF accounted for just 0.2 percent of global commercial fuel use.
According to the authors, this research provides crucial insights that can guide all stakeholders in the SAF economy, including policymakers, the finance sector, and industry players.
Building on these findings, future efforts will focus on scaling sustainable SAF production, addressing data gaps, and driving investment to support the sustainable growth of the SAF ecosystem.
This study lays the groundwork for the future of sustainable aviation, underscoring the need for ongoing research, collaboration, and innovation.
With further investment and exploration, Southeast Asia can play a leading role in the global transition to a sustainable aviation economy.
