Sweden becomes a frontrunner in sustainable aviation

Sweden has an ambitious target of being fossil-free by 2045. As a part of the initiative, the Swedish government announced Sept. 11 to introduce a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction mandate for aviation fuel sold in Sweden in 2021. The reduction level will be 0.8 percent in 2021, and gradually increase to 27 percent in 2030. This makes Sweden an undisputed leader in sustainable aviation.

Photo: Neste Corp.

"We need frontrunners to lead the way in sustainable aviation," said Jonathan Wood, vice president of Neste Corp.'s European renewable aviation division. "The ambitious target now set by the Swedish government is an example others should follow in order to support the aviation industry in meeting its emission reduction targets. It also creates the necessary certainty for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers to invest in increasing the production."

Earlier this year, Norway introduced a 0.5 percent biofuel blending mandate. There will be enough capacity on the market to supply the anticipated volumes of SAF to Sweden and Norway. Neste is already producing commercial scale volumes of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel, refined from renewable waste and residue raw materials. In its neat form and over the lifecycle, the fuel can reduce up to 80 percent of GHG emissions compared to fossil jet fuel.

Neste's SAF annual capacity is currently 100,000 tons. With Neste's Singapore refinery expansion on the way, and with possible additional investment into the Rotterdam refinery, Neste will have the capacity to produce some 1.5 million tons of sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2023.

The global aviation industry has set ambitious targets to mitigate GHG emissions from air transport, including carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and beyond, and a 50 percent reduction of net aviation carbon emissions by 2050. Aviation needs multiple solutions for reducing GHG emissions. Currently, SAF offers the only viable alternative to fossil fuels for powering aircrafts.