Cleaner jet fuel: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2025

Today, almost all commercially available alternative fuels are made from waste fats, oils and greases. Montana Renewable Energy recently received a $1.44 billion loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand such production facilities. Still, the supply of these materials is limited.

Companies using other technologies and inputs are making progress in scaling up. Lanza Airways Opened its first commercial-scale ethanol production aviation fuel facility in early 2024 with an annual capacity of 9 million gallons. Synthetic fuels made from carbon dioxide could further expand options for airlines, although these fuels are not yet produced on a commercial scale.

A key factor for alternative aviation fuels moving forward is cost – on average, SAF on the market today tends to be nearly three times more expensive than conventional aviation fuel. Having more companies produce more fuel should help lower prices, although newer fuels may be more expensive.