SAF85 Technical Brief Aviation Sector

The document defines 'SAF85' as fuel with a life-cycle carbon intensity of 13.35 gCO2e/MJ or lower, based on CORSIA standards. It identifies Power-to-Liquids (PtL) and Gasification Fischer-Tropsch (GFT) using second-generation biomass as the pathways with the highest potential to meet this threshold. It also analyzes the impact of carbon capture and induced land-use change (ILUC) on emissions, and compares CORSIA with other frameworks like RED II, the UK SAF Mandate, and GREET.

• Power-to-liquids (PtL) pathways, including Fischer-Tropsch and e-methanol alcohol-to-jet, have a very high potential to meet the SAF85 threshold provided they utilize green hydrogen, clean CO2, and renewable electricity. The German Environment Agency estimates PtL SAF life-cycle carbon intensity between 5-10 gCO2e/MJ.
• Gasification Fischer-Tropsch (GFT) using second-generation (2G) biomass feedstocks—such as wastes, residues, and >95% biogenic municipal solid waste—is highly likely to meet the FMC threshold if there is no or negative attributed land-use change.
• Most other SAF pathways, including HEFA, SIP, and most alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) options, generally do not meet the SAF85 threshold based on CORSIA default values, although specific projects (such as those using used cooking oil) may still qualify through project-level life-cycle analysis.
• The application of carbon capture with a typical 90% capture rate could theoretically enable many HEFA and AtJ pathways to meet the FMC threshold, although SIP would remain above it and no SAF plants currently use this technology.
• Miscanthus is highlighted as a feedstock with high potential for negative induced land-use change (ILUC) emissions due to its ability to store carbon underground, potentially allowing miscanthus AtJ and GFT SAF to fall well within or even below the FMC threshold.
• While CORSIA is the default measurement system for FMC, other 'similar frameworks' are acceptable, including the EU's RED II, the UK SAF Mandate, and the US GREET model. A key difference is that GREET allows for the subtraction of emissions from valorized co-products.

APA

World Economic Forum (2024). SAF85 Technical Brief Aviation Sector. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FMC_SAF85_Technical_Brief_2024.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. SAF85 Technical Brief Aviation Sector. 2024. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FMC_SAF85_Technical_Brief_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=SAF85 Technical Brief Aviation Sector |date=August 2024 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FMC_SAF85_Technical_Brief_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2024saf85, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{SAF85 Technical Brief Aviation Sector}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FMC_SAF85_Technical_Brief_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }