Aviation Fuel Mandate Taking Effect in 2021

The Swedish government made sustainability news on September 11^th by introducing an aviation fuel mandate taking effect in 2021. The greenhouse gas reduction for aviation fuels will be 0.8% in 2021 and gradually increasing up to 27% in 2030.  Sweden is now the second country in Scandinavia and the second in all of Europe to institute a formal renewable aviation fuel requirement.  Norway began an aviation fuel mandate earlier this year which introduced a 0.5% biofuel blending mandate.

Renewable fuel mandates in the aviation fuel industry have always been difficult due to controversies around how to allocate greenhouse gas reductions depending on flight departure and arrival locations. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) currently has a sustainable aviation fuel program set to take formal effect in 2027, but some countries are moving more quickly to put in national targets.

World Energy of California was the first commercial producer of renewable jet fuel in the world back in 2016.  They revamped an existing facility using the UOP Ecofining process to produce both renewable jet fuel and renewable diesel. 

Production of renewable jet fuel is modestly more expensive than production of renewable diesel.  This is due to additional hydrocracking for jet and increased levels of hydrogen consumption.  Capital costs are also slightly higher due to additional processing equipment such as a steam stripper, fractionation column and segregated product storage, plus additional laboratory and certification requirements. 

Come talk to us at UOP.  We are the only licensor with proven commercial experience with renewable jet fuel in the industry.  No other licensor has a single operating unit.  We currently have five other projects under development to produce renewable jet fuel.  We are the sustainable aviation fuel leader.

by Dan Szeezil, Offering Manager, Renewable Fuels, Sustainable Technology Solutions.