At the recent SAF Congress in Amsterdam (7-9 June 2023), the question was posed: Are you an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist about SAF?
My answer was an emphatic “realist”. This approach is often interpreted as negative about SAF but is quite the opposite. As put very clearly by one panel member: “I am a scientist. And I am here to give you a reality check.”
A realist sees both the opportunities and the challenges, which is essential if we want to develop SAF and achieve decarbonisation of the sector. Only when we identify the challenges can we implement the actions to overcome these obstacles. The targets set by ICAO and IATA are very ambitious, with numerous challenges. We must accept these challenges and take active steps to address them. Unrealistic expectations of the timeframe to commercialise and scale up technologies and the subsequent, inevitable failure to achieve these immediately undermine the sector.
I am a scientist and, therefore, a realist.
