US DOE releases SAF Grand Challenge request-for-information findings

The U.S. DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office released a summary report from a September 2023 request for information (RFI) on building supply chains to meet Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge goals.

The SAF Grand Challenge was launched in 2021 by DOE, the U.S. Department of Transportation and USDA with the goal of supplying sufficient SAF to meet all U.S. aviation fuel demand by 2050 and achieve at least a 50 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions compared to conventional fuel.

The RFI requested input from industry, academia, national laboratories, government agencies and other stakeholders to identify opportunities for developing effective supply chains capable of meeting these SAF Grand Challenge goals.

The RFI was open to the public for two months and collected feedback from stakeholders resulting in multiple key takeaways.

The recommendations and perspectives captured are critical for understanding industry perspectives and needs as we work towards a more sustainable future for the aviation sector. 

Responses were categorized by:

• Accelerating success of regional SAF supply-chain coalitions.

• Modeling and simulation tools for enabling the SAF supply chain.

• Critical gaps in the demonstration and SAF supply-chain elements.

• Scaling and commercial build-out of SAF supply-chain elements.

• Understanding the government’s role in informing stakeholders.

This RFI underscored the importance of both federal and state policies and collaborative actions by stakeholders to drive progress of SAF supply chains.

View the full SAF Grand Challenge: Building Supply Chains Request for Information Summary Report here.

BETO will hold an informational webinar May 30 during which key themes and takeaways from the report will be discussed.

To register for the webinar, click here.