Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge

The SAF Grand Challenge is the result of DOE, DOT, and USDA launching a government-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will attempt to reduce the cost, enhance the sustainability, and expand the production and use of SAF while meeting the following goals:

• A minimum of a 50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fuel.
• 3 billion gallons per year of domestic SAF by 2030.
• 35 billion gallons of SAF to satisfy 100% of domestic demand by 2050.

The SAF Grand Challenge and the increased production of SAF will play a critical role in a broader set of actions by the United States government and the private sector to reduce the aviation sector’s emissions in a manner consistent with the goal of net-zero emissions for the U.S. economy, and to put the aviation sector on a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050.

In recognition of the critical role that drop-in synthesized hydrocarbon fuel from waste streams, renewable energy sources, or gaseous carbon oxides—or SAF—will play in addressing the climate change crisis, and its role for jobs and the economy, DOE, DOT, and USDA undertake the MOU to ensure the highest level of collaboration and coordination across the agencies.

Through the MOU, DOE, DOT, and USDA intend to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment needed for an ambitious government-wide commitment to scale up the production of SAF to at least 35 billion gallons per year by 2050 to satisfy 100% of domestic demand. A near-term goal of 3 billion gallons per year is established as a milestone for 2030.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap

To achieve the SAF Grand Challenge goals, the DOE, DOT, and USDA worked with other government agencies; stakeholders from national labs, universities, non-governmental organizations; and the aviation, agricultural, and energy industries to develop the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap: Flight Plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

The roadmap outlines a whole-of-government approach to work with and support industry to meet the goals of the SAF Grand Challenge. These goals include aiming to increase emissions reductions; de-risk technology, supply chains, and markets through demonstration, investment, and policy analysis; and reduce barriers that hinder distribution and end use of SAF.

Read the full roadmap report.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge: October 2021–September 2024 Progress Report

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DOE, DOT, and USDA, along with other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative have made important progress on accelerating acceptance and growth of SAF as a primary strategy in aviation decarbonization.

The progress made by these federal agencies supporting the SAF Grand Challenge occurs when they release new funding opportunities and initiatives aligned with the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap; provide expertise and technical assistance to industry; increase interagency collaboration; and provide data, modeling, and analysis to decision makers.

Read the full progress report and fact sheet. 

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework

The interagency team released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework in November 2024, a supplemental document to the roadmap. 

This Framework provides stakeholders and the public insight into the current efforts of federal agencies to implement roadmap actions. It also identifies gaps in current programs and existing barriers to achieving the SAF Grand Challenge goals. Many of these gaps need support from SAF stakeholders to meet these goals. 

Learn more and download the report or overview fact sheet.

SAF Grand Challenge: Tracking Metrics and Mid-2024 Dashboard

The SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap outlines a whole-of-government approach with coordinated policies and specific activities that should be undertaken to achieve the SAF Grand Challenge goals.

To track progress on achieving the SAF Grand Challenge goals, the following four metrics have been developed:

1. Estimated total U.S. SAF production.
2. Estimated life cycle CO₂ equivalent reductions achieved with U.S. SAF production and use.
3. Planned production potential of SAF in the United States.
4. Applicable research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects.

Learn more and download the tracking metrics fact sheet.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge: Building Supply Chains Request for Information Summary Report

BETO released a Summary Report from a September 2023 Request for Information (RFI) seeking public feedback on building supply chains to meet SAF Grand Challenge goals. The RFI was open to the public for two months and collected input and recommendations from industry, academia, national laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders needed for making progress towards a more sustainable future for the U.S. aviation sector. 

Read the SAF Grand Challenge: Building Supply Chains RFI Summary Report.