Biofuels for aviation: Technology brief

Developing and promoting biofuels for aviation will be essential to reduce carbon emissions from commercial aviation. As a first step, some pioneering airports have already incorporated bio-jet fuel into their refuelling systems.

Yet wider bio-jet adoption is constrained by high costs compared to fossil-based jet fuels. New policy approaches are needed to set international standards and ensure co-ordination to incentivise bio-jet development.

The aviation sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, at 2% of the human-induced total. The sector’s transition to sustainable, renewable fuels, therefore, is crucial to meet the international climate targets set forth in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This brief examines how the expansion of biofuels for jet aircraft can reduce emissions substantially compared to fossil-based jet fuel.

Aviation in recent years has accounted for around 12% of global fuel consumption for transport. Many airlines, aircraft manufacturers and industry associations have set voluntary targets to achieve carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and halve emissions by 2050.

Biofuels for Aviation is one of several briefs from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to focus on renewable-based transport.

Successive technology briefs have highlighted a wide range of renewable energy solutions. Each brief outlines technical aspects, costs, market potential and barriers, combined with insights for policy makers on how to accelerate the transition to renewables.

See also:

Renewable energy options for shipping: Technology brief (2015)

Electric vehicles: Technology brief (2017)