Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Catalysing sustainable aviation fuel deployment
Scaling the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) remains a challenge. Progress is held back by a combination of technological, financial, and policy barriers that are closely interconnected. While SAF is a key near-term lever, supply remains constrained by the challenge of securing investment at scale. Risk–return profiles are often unattractive, access to targeted public funding is limited, and long-term pricing, regulation and technology performance remain uncertain.
Together with SMBC Aviation Capital, SMFL and Trinity College Dublin, we convened producers, offtakers, regulators and financiers to address these challenges.
In this report, you will explore:
- The key barriers to scaling SAF
- Practical recommendations to unlock the investment needed
- A shared cross-industry perspective on the path forward
How SMBC can help
SMBC brings deep experience in lending, structuring and green loan coordination for sustainable projects such as the Kassø e‑Methanol plant in Denmark – the world’s first commercial-scale e‑methanol facility – and DSL-01, a commercial-scale SAF plant in the Netherlands; financing for both closed in 2026.
If you're exploring SAF production, infrastructure or supply chain opportunities, get in touch to discuss how SMBC can support your ambitions.
Download the report to explore the key gaps and the steps needed to scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Europe.
