The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, now known as the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative, is the result of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal government agencies working together to develop a comprehensive strategy for scaling up new technologies to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on a commercial scale.
SAF Initiative
The SAF Initiative is the result of DOE, DOT, and USDA launching a government-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will attempt to reduce the cost, enhance energy security, and expand the production and use of SAF.
A commercial jet with biofuel tank. Photo courtesy of iStock.com.
Drop-in synthesized hydrocarbon fuel from waste streams, other biomass material and feedstocks, or gaseous carbon oxides—or SAF—will play a critical role in spurring domestic fuel production and securing U.S. energy independence. DOE, DOT, and USDA structured the MOU to ensure the highest level of collaboration and coordination across the agencies to support jobs and the nation's economy.
Through the MOU, interagency partners intend to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment needed to scale up the production of SAF to satisfy domestic demand.
SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap
DOE, DOT, and USDA worked with other government agencies; national laboratories, universities, non-governmental organizations; and the aviation, agricultural, and energy industries to develop the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap: Flight Plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
The Roadmap outlines a whole-of-government approach to work with and support industry to meet SAF objectives. These objectives include aiming to de-risk technology, supply chains, and markets through demonstration, funding, and policy analysis; and reduce barriers that hinder distribution and end use of SAF.
Read the full roadmap report.
SAF Grand Challenge: October 2021–September 2024 Progress Report
DOE, DOT, and USDA, along with other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative have made important progress on accelerating acceptance and growth of SAF.
The progress made by these federal agencies supporting the SAF Initiative occurs when they release new funding opportunities and initiatives aligned with the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap; provide expertise and technical assistance to industry; increase interagency collaboration; and provide data, modeling, and analysis to decision makers.
Read the full progress report.
SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework
The interagency team released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework in November 2024, a supplemental document to the roadmap.
This Framework provides stakeholders and the public insight into the current efforts of federal agencies to implement roadmap actions. It also identifies gaps in current programs and existing barriers to achieving the SAF Initiative objectives. Many of these gaps need support from SAF stakeholders to meet these objectives.
Learn more and download the report.
SAF Grand Challenge: Tracking Metrics and Mid-2024 Dashboard
The Tracking Metrics and Mid-2024 Dashboard summarizes actions and progress to help drive innovation and expand the production and uses of SAF to achieve the SAF Initiative objectives.
SAF production and growth not only powers aircrafts, it also generates American jobs by boosting domestic manufacturing and economic development in rural and agricultural communities.
To track progress on achieving the SAF Initiative objectives, the following four metrics have been developed:
- Estimated total U.S. SAF production.
- Estimated life cycle CO2 equivalent reductions achieved with U.S. SAF production and use.
- Planned production potential of SAF in the United States.
- Applicable research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects.
Learn more.
SAF Grand Challenge: Building Supply Chains Request for Information Summary Report
BETO released a Summary Report from a September 2023 Request for Information (RFI) seeking public feedback on building supply chains to meet SAF Initiative objectives. The RFI was open to the public for two months and collected input and recommendations from industry, academia, national laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders needed for making progress towards a secure energy future for the U.S. aviation sector.
Read the SAF Grand Challenge: Building Supply Chains RFI Summary Report.