A new report, titled Out of the Fryer, by Future Energy Global (FEG) and PA Consulting, warns that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers’ current reliance on a limited set of feedstocks—particularly used cooking oil (UCO)—is creating bottlenecks that threaten the sector’s scalability.

The study highlights that the HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) pathway is the most commercially mature, with standalone production estimated at 10 million metric tons by 2030. However, global UCO supply is insufficient to meet growing demand, leading to price increases and uncertainty for producers.

FEG and PA Consulting propose diversifying feedstock sources, identifying four main alternatives available in the United States:
🌾 Primary oilseed crops (soybeans and canola)
🌱 Oilseed cover crops
🍖 Animal byproducts
🌽 Distilled corn oil, derived from food or biofuel production.

The report establishes three essential criteria to ensure that new inputs are credible, scalable, and sustainable:

• Low lifecycle emissions compared to fossil fuels.
• Avoiding market conflicts, such as competition with food or feed.
• Mature and resilient supply chains, with reliable and efficient logistics networks.

“Our mission is to accelerate the expansion of SAF and reduce aviation emissions,” said Natasha Mann, CEO and co-founder of FEG. “We are now identifying future feedstocks that will enable production to scale well beyond the limits of used cooking oil.”

Grant Gunter, energy expert at PA Consulting, stated:

“Without credible, scientific strategies to address supply bottlenecks, the industry risks losing momentum just as it begins to accelerate.”

The report offers strategic guidance for airlines, SAF producers, investors, and energy stakeholders, emphasizing that diversifying raw material supplies will be critical to aviation’s future sustainable growth.

Source and Credits to Future Energy Global

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