Production pathways for renewable jet fuel: a review of commercialization status and future prospects

Aviation is responsible for an increasing share of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Decarbonization to 2050 is expected to rely on renewable jet fuel (RJF) derived from biomass, but this represents a radical departure from the existing regime of petroleum-based fuels. Increased market deployment will require significant cost reductions, alongside adaptation of existing supply chains and infrastructure. This paper maps development and manufacturing efforts for six RJF production pathways expected to reach commercialization in the next 5–10 years. A Rapid Evidence Assessment was conducted to evaluate the technological and commercial maturity of each pathway and progress toward international certification, using the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative's Fuel Readiness Level (FRL) framework. Planned and operational facilities have been cataloged alongside partnerships with the aviation industry. Policy and economic factors likely to affect future development and deployment are considered. Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (FRL 9) is the most developed pathway. It is ASTM certified, has fuelled the majority of RJF flights to date, and is produced at three commercial-scale facilities. Fischer-Tropsch derived fuels are moving toward the start-up of first commercial facilities (FRL 7 and 8), although widespread deployment seems unlikely under current market conditions. The Direct Sugars to Hydrocarbons conversion pathway (FRL 5–7) is being championed by Amyris and Total in Brazil, but has yet to be demonstrated at scale. Other pathways are in the demonstration and pilot phases (FRL 4–6). Despite growing interest in RJF, demand and production volumes remain negligible. Development of supportive policy is likely to be critical to future deployment. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd