A recent report from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), supported by Boeing, indicates that Southeast Asia could supply approximately 12% of the global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) demand needed to meet the commercial aviation industry’s net-zero goal by 2050.
The sustainable feedstock assessment, which covers 11 countries in Southeast Asia, reveals that the region’s bio-based feedstock capacity could produce around 45.7 million metric tons of SAF annually by 2050. Key findings from the report include:
- About 75% of the potential SAF feedstock can be sourced from post-consumer and agricultural waste, including cassava, sugarcane, and municipal solid waste.
- Rice husks and straw are identified as the most significant SAF feedstocks in the region compared to other agricultural residues.
- Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines collectively account for approximately 90% of Southeast Asia’s SAF supply capacity.
Sharmine Tan, Boeing’s regional sustainability lead for Southeast Asia, emphasized the region’s diverse SAF feedstock availability and its potential to meet global SAF demand.
“With regional governments and industry working together on sustainability policies and infrastructure investment, scaling local production and building a regional SAF capability provides Southeast Asia an exciting opportunity to help shape a more sustainable future of flight while protecting its environment and growing its economy,” she said.
Unblended or “neat” SAF, which is entirely free of fossil fuels, holds the most promise for reducing aviation’s carbon emissions over the next 30 years, with the potential to lower lifecycle emissions by up to 84%. However, in 2023, SAF accounted for only 0.2% of global commercial fuel usage.
Arianna Baldo, RSB’s Programme Director, noted that the research also considers the environmental and social sustainability of available feedstocks, including impacts on deforestation, water, and food security. “These results can help guide future SAF feedstock supply, including the exploration of other agricultural and industrial waste materials,” she said.
Boeing is actively working to scale SAF production globally through region-specific roadmaps and feedstock analyses in collaboration with local partners and governments.
Their efforts, which span over a dozen countries—including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan—contribute to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) Program.
