16 companies collaborate across industry boundaries to domestically produce SAF, an alternative fuel for aircraft

16 companies, including airlines and plant construction companies, will collaborate across industry boundaries with the aim of domestically producing the aircraft alternative fuel "SAF," which is said to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. ..

All Nippon Airways, a major aviation company, Japan Airlines, and JGC, a major plant construction company, held a press conference at Haneda Airport on the 2nd.

He also announced the launch of a new organization, "ACT FOR SKY," with the aim of domestically producing the alternative fuel for aircraft, "SAF."

SAF is a biofuel made from plants and waste oil, and is said to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 80% compared to conventional fuels.

Now, we rely on imports for everything, and the issue is whether we can secure a sufficient amount in Japan.

For this reason, the new organization will study stable procurement of used cooking oil, which is a raw material, and methods for manufacturing at low cost.

At the press conference, JGC Chairman Masayuki Sato said, "SAF is the trump card for decarbonization, but the cooperation of a wide range of industries is necessary to realize domestic production."

Challenges to realize domestic production

While SAF is attracting attention for decarbonization in the aviation field, the issue is how to stably procure raw materials and keep costs down in order to realize domestic production.

The fuel manufacturers in Kyoto City, which participates in the group that was established this time, are aiming to produce SAF from used cooking oil collected from about 25,000 places such as restaurants nationwide.

On the 2nd, employees visited the sushi restaurant in Shinbashi, Tokyo, and picked up the oil used for cooking tempura and other dishes.

According to the Transport Research Institute, which conducts research on SAF, it is estimated that if all raw materials such as used cooking oil and household waste can be used for production, almost all aviation fuel in Japan can be replaced with SAF.

However, in the case of cooking oil, the number of cases where overseas companies that have already started full-scale production of SAF buy it at a high price is increasing.

For this reason, the cost of production is also an issue, and according to the research institute, SAF production costs two to ten times as much as conventional fuel, so it is a high hurdle for manufacturers to start production. am.

Researcher Masashi Matsuzaka of the Transport Research Institute said, "Overseas-made SAFs are in a competitive battle, and domestic production is required for stable procurement, but Japan is 10 years behind Europe and the United States. If it does not progress, it may affect logistics, etc., and it is an issue that society as a whole should tackle. "