Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
240 FRENCH ADMINISTRATION BLDG
PULLMAN,WA 99164-0001
Performing Department
Office of Nat Lab Partnerships
Non Technical Summary
The aviation industry has set the ambitious goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The importance of developing and deploying significant quantities of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) was recognized by The White House in the SAF Grand Challenge in September 2021. The SAF Grand Challenge is a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Transportation to reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and expand annual SAF production to 3-billion gallons by 2030 and 35-billion gallons by 2050. Washington State University (WSU) will partner with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) to host a Biennial General Meeting (CBGM) to gather stakeholders and researchers across the SAF supply chain to coordinate commercial and research efforts addressing these goals. This conference, proposed for June 1-3 (2022) in Washington DC, will convene feedstock developers, fuels producers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and other interested parties with leading researchers and government officials to address these critical national needs that help mitigate the impact climate change. By aligning industrial needs and requirements with leaders in regional agricultural projects, developers of supply chain tools, and emerging conversion technologies, this effort will directly address the program priority areas for USDA NIFA's Sustainable Bioeconomy through Biobased Products. Specifically, this conference will cover (1) new and improved strategies for biobased products, (2) strategic approaches for scalable biomass production systems, and (3) strategies to alleviate technical and economic barriers leading to SAF adoption.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The aviation industry has set the ambitious goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The importance of developing and deploying significant quantities of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) was recognized by The White House in the SAF Grand Challenge in September 2021. The SAF Grand Challenge is a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Transportation to reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and expand annual SAF production to 3-billion gallons by 2030 and 35-billion gallons by 2050. Washington State University (WSU) will partner with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) to host a Biennial General Meeting (CBGM) to gather stakeholders and researchers across the SAF supply chain to coordinate commercial and research efforts addressing these goals. This conference, proposed for June 1-3 (2022) in Washington DC, will convene feedstock developers, fuels producers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and other interested parties with leading researchers and government officials to address these critical national needs that help mitigate the impact climate change. By aligning industrial needs and requirements with leaders in regional agricultural projects, developers of supply chain tools, and emerging conversion technologies, this effort will directly address the program priority areas for USDA NIFA's Sustainable Bioeconomy through Biobased Products. Specifically, this conference will cover (1) new and improved strategies for biobased products, (2) strategic approaches for scalable biomass production systems, and (3) strategies to alleviate technical and economic barriers leading to SAF adoption.Specific objectives for the CBGM include:Highlighting U.S. government policies and programs enhancing SAF progress, discussing policy developments and associated challenges and opportunities.Showcasing progress in SAF development, evaluation, and deployment.Demonstrating airline and other end user commitments to expanding market demand.Sharing progress on SAF qualification under ASTM. [3]Featuring sustainability approaches and demonstrating environmental, social, and economic performance, including the potential for contributing to ecosystem services.Sharing best practices and new/improved technologies for bio-based SAF production.Sharing progress from NIFA Coordinated Agriculture Projects [4] (SPARC, SBAR, IPREFER, MasBio) and other research programs (e.g., Department of Energy, Aviation Sustainability Center of Excellence) [5].Highlighting future directions and opportunities including higher SAF blend levels, carbon management, feedstock expansion, and use of renewable hydrogen and energy.
Project Methods
The program for the 7th CAFFI Biennial General meeting (June 1-3 of 2022) will include a three-day meeting divided into technical/scientific sessions and will include keynote speakers, presentations, panel discussions, and/or breakout sessions, announcements of significant progress and/or commitments. Keynote speakers may include high level government officials as well as industry participants.Draft agenda topics will include elements such as the following:- The Big Picture: U.S. and International SAF policies, COP26 Commitments and Driving Paris Goals to Action Plans, the Carbon Reduction and Offsetting Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and future policy needs.- SAF Commercialization: SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap, U.S., Regional Partners and International SAF Producer updates, USDA and Department of Energy loan and deployment programs supporting SAF.- The Critical Value Proposition: ASTM Fuel Certification and Qualification, ensuring sustainability, the role of carbon offsets, use of agricultural feedstocks to enhance fuel production, environmental services benefits.- End Users Perspectives and Commitments including airports, commercial airlines, business aviation, rotorcraft operators, and corporate alliances.- The Future of SAF: Research and development updates from NIFA AFRI CAPs, ASCENT and national laboratories, deployment of 100% SAF, novel fuels and propulsion systems, carbon capture and use/sequestration.All topics allow for Q&A and discussion amongst the participants. Additionally, CAAFI will use electronic audience survey methodologies to capture key audience input.