Boeing and Technion Partner to Develop Sustainable Aviation Fuel Targeting 2050 Goals

• Boeing has committed to delivering commercial airplanes capable of flying on 100% SAF by 2030, while the commercial aviation industry targets net-zero emissions by 2050
• SAF production remains significantly more expensive than traditional jet fuel (2-5 times the cost) and IATA forecasts it will represent only 0.7% of total jet fuel in 2025
• Boeing separately partnered with Ben-Gurion University to establish a cybersecurity research center for next-generation aviation and aerospace systems

Summary: Boeing-Technion Partnership for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development

Key Partnership: Boeing and Israel's Technion University announced a collaboration on January 27 to develop Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using feedstocks including green hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The project has completed its initial feasibility phase and is moving toward competitive commercial production.

Industry Context: SAF, primarily made from waste or used cooking oil, can significantly reduce emissions compared to conventional jet fuel but remains 2-5 times more expensive. Despite growing industry interest, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects SAF will account for only 0.7% of total jet fuel in 2025.

Strategic Targets: Boeing has committed to delivering commercial aircraft capable of flying on 100% SAF by 2030, while the broader commercial aviation industry aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. However, IATA warns the 2050 target could be missed given current adoption rates.

Timeline and Scale: Boeing acknowledged that large-scale SAF development could still take several years. The fuel can be produced from various sources including cover crops, agricultural waste, forestry waste, and industrial off-gassing.

Additional Initiatives: Boeing and Ben-Gurion University are also establishing a cybersecurity research center for next-generation aviation systems. Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson, currently in Israel, emphasized the company's focus on enhancing energy security and supporting civil aviation growth through sustainable technologies.

Market Implications: The partnership addresses aviation's sustainability challenges, though significant cost and production barriers remain before SAF can achieve mainstream adoption and meet industry decarbonization goals.