The aviation industry is entering a decisive phase in its energy transition. As governments and industry stakeholders search for viable pathways to reduce carbon emissions, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are increasingly seen as the most immediate and scalable solution for decarbonizing air transport. In this context, Chile has unveiled an ambitious national strategy aimed at positioning the country within the emerging global SAF industry. Through its SAF Roadmap 2050, the country outlines a long-term vision to develop a domestic ecosystem for sustainable aviation fuels and support the decarbonization of aviation.
Aviation’s growing decarbonization challenge
Global aviation faces a complex climate challenge. While the sector currently accounts for roughly 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its environmental footprint could increase significantly in the coming decades as air traffic continues to grow.
Air transport demand has expanded rapidly over the past decades, driven by globalization, tourism growth and the need for faster international connectivity. As a result, aviation fuel consumption is projected to rise sharply. Global jet fuel demand could increase from around 391 billion liters in 2018 to approximately 874 billion liters by 2050, illustrating the scale of the decarbonization challenge facing the sector.
Given the technological limitations of electrification or hydrogen propulsion for long-haul aviation in the near term, the industry has identified sustainable aviation fuels as one of the most realistic pathways to reduce emissions while maintaining operational continuity.
The central role of sustainable aviation fuels
Sustainable aviation fuels are produced from renewable or waste-derived sources such as biomass, used cooking oils, municipal waste, captured carbon dioxide or hydrogen-based synthetic fuels. One of their most significant advantages is their compatibility with existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure, allowing them to be integrated into current aviation systems without requiring major technological changes.
When produced under optimized conditions, SAF can significantly reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional jet fuel. In some cases, emissions reductions can reach up to 99% over the entire fuel lifecycle, making them a key component of global aviation decarbonization strategies.
However, the industry remains at an early stage of development. Global SAF production reached just over 600 million liters in 2023, a fraction of the volumes required to support large-scale aviation decarbonization. Industry projections suggest that to meet the sector’s net-zero ambitions, production would need to scale dramatically, reaching approximately 449 billion liters annually by 2050.
Chile’s roadmap for a national SAF ecosystem
Against this backdrop, Chile’s SAF Roadmap sets out a strategy to develop the country’s own sustainable aviation fuel ecosystem. The initiative is the result of collaboration between several public institutions and industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, the Energy Sustainability Agency and international partners.
The roadmap emerged from a public-private roundtable that brought together actors across the aviation, energy and fuel sectors to assess the opportunities and barriers associated with SAF development in Chile. The initiative seeks to establish the policy, technological and market conditions required to support the emergence of a domestic SAF industry.
Chile’s ambition is clear: sustainable aviation fuels could represent up to 50% of the fuel used by the country’s aviation sector by 2050. To reach this objective, the roadmap outlines a series of actions aimed at building a complete SAF value chain, from feedstock sourcing and fuel production to distribution and use by airlines.
Five pillars for SAF development
The strategy identifies five key pillars to support the development of a sustainable aviation fuel ecosystem in Chile:
- capacity building and human capital development
- regulatory frameworks and policy support
- market development
- creation of a national SAF ecosystem
- technological innovation and industrial deployment
Together, these pillars aim to reduce uncertainty for investors, encourage collaboration across sectors and support the emergence of a competitive SAF industry capable of serving both domestic and international aviation markets.
Natural advantages and industrial opportunities
Chile believes it has several structural advantages that could support the development of sustainable aviation fuels.
The country has significant renewable energy potential, particularly in solar and wind power, which could play a critical role in producing synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen. At the same time, several potential feedstocks for SAF production are already available domestically, including forestry residues, used cooking oils, agricultural waste and other organic materials.
These resources could enable the development of multiple SAF production pathways, ranging from biomass-based fuels to advanced synthetic fuels derived from captured carbon and renewable electricity.
Beyond its environmental objectives, the roadmap also highlights the economic opportunities associated with developing a new industrial sector linked to sustainable aviation fuels. SAF production could stimulate investment in energy infrastructure, support regional economic development and generate new value chains connected to renewable energy and waste management.
Key challenges remain
Despite these opportunities, the roadmap acknowledges that the development of sustainable aviation fuels will face several obstacles.
One of the most significant barriers is cost. SAF currently remains substantially more expensive than conventional jet fuel, with production costs estimated to be two to four times higher depending on the technology pathway and feedstock used.
Scaling the industry will therefore require significant investment in production facilities, research and development and infrastructure across the fuel supply chain. Regulatory frameworks and policy incentives will also play a critical role in supporting early-stage market development.
A signal in the global aviation energy transition
Chile’s SAF Roadmap illustrates how the transition toward low-carbon aviation is increasingly becoming a matter of national energy strategy rather than solely an aviation industry concern.
As airlines seek access to sustainable fuels and governments implement decarbonization policies, new players are emerging in the global aviation energy landscape. Countries with abundant renewable resources and favorable industrial conditions may find themselves well positioned to become producers of next-generation aviation fuels.
By outlining a long-term strategy for SAF development, Chile is signaling its intention to participate in this evolving market. If successfully implemented, the roadmap could help position the country as a regional player in the emerging sustainable aviation fuel industry while contributing to the broader effort to decarbonize global air transport.
