Industry leaders form Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Canadian aviation industry leaders are joining forces to create the Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF), whose mission is to accelerate the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in Canada to ensure that the Canadian aviation sector remains competitive as it transitions to a net-zero future.

Sustainable aviation fuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 per cent and can be used now without significant modifications to aircraft or supply infrastructure. Their use will allow for rapid results in achieving carbon neutrality in the sector.

Created by a consortium of 60 airlines operating in Canada and comprised of key stakeholders in the Canadian aviation ecosystem including suppliers, aerospace manufacturers, airports, finance, and academia, the council will aim to facilitate the production and supply of affordable, low-carbon, made-in-Canada SAF. The C-SAF will also act as the voice of its members with governments and stakeholders to develop an ambitious strategy and roadmap for a profitable and sustainable SAF market in Canada.

“Decarbonising Canadian aviation requires collaboration between industry, governments, scientists and airlines. The C-SAF provides a space for a common dialogue to facilitate the exchange of ideas to reduce GHG emissions from aviation and we strongly believe that with everyone working together, change can happen faster,” said Geoff Tauvette, Executive Director of the C-SAF.

Decarbonising Canadian aviation

The aviation sector will be one of the most difficult to decarbonise as electric and hydrogen technologies are in development and will not easily be used until sometime in the future. Thus, it is essential to put in place a set of coherent public policies that will encourage the establishment of a sustainable aviation fuel value chain to accelerate their commercialization and widespread use.

“The aviation industry is in constant evolution to ensure a greener future for our planet. With the launch of the C-SAF, Canada’s aviation sector will remain competitive and will create jobs for Canadians while reducing pollution. This initiative will help in Canada’s goal in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and is a step in the right direction for the aviation industry,” commented the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra.

Tauvette added: “We want to promote and implement sound public policies to address aviation’s need for a sustainable, made-in-Canada, affordable supply of aviation fuel. I salute the vision of the industry players and thank all of our partners who will enable Canada to become a leader in the decarbonisation of global aviation.”

In summary

• C-SAF is a not-for-profit organisation that brings together all players in the aerospace chain to facilitate the production and supply of affordable, low-carbon, Canadian-made sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)
• Sustainable aviation fuels can reduce life-cycle carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to traditional jet fuel
• Sustainable aviation fuels are produced from renewable feedstocks that are widely available in Canada, such as forest and agricultural residues, industrial fats, oils, and grease, municipal solid wastes and CO₂ captured from industrial processes or the air
• Canada has all the ingredients to create an affordable and reliable SAF market: an abundance of renewable feedstocks, low-carbon energy sources, climate policies, and evolving carbon pricing
• Currently, sustainable aviation fuels can cost up to eight times more than traditional jet fuel and are not produced or imported in significant quantities into Canada.