The AST publishes the SAF White Paper and calls for a national strategy to lead sustainable aviation fuel production in Spain

The Air Transport Sustainability Alliance (AST) today presented its SAF White Paper at the event ‘SAF in Spain: Strategic Autonomy, Industry and Sustainability’, held at the Institute for Energy Diversification and Savings (IDAE). The document provides a comprehensive analysis of the role and benefits that producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in Spain would bring for the decarbonisation of air transport, reindustrialisation, socioeconomic growth, and strategic autonomy.

According to the report, domestic SAF production could reduce the country’s energy dependence, promote innovation, and create employment. It estimates a GDP impact of over €13 billion and the creation of more than 250,000 jobs through 2050. Spain has competitive advantages to boost production, including the availability of biomass, renewable electricity, and advanced logistics infrastructure. However, the AST highlights the need for financial incentives, support programmes, and stable regulatory frameworks to facilitate technological development, plant construction, and the competitiveness of SAF compared with conventional kerosene.

The presentation of the White Paper was supported by Miguel Rodrigo, Director-General of IDAE, an organisation attached to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge through the State Secretariat for Energy. He underscored IDAE’s “contribution to generating knowledge and debate”, which, in addition to financial support, helps bring together all the stakeholders working towards achieving the decarbonisation objectives of air transport, inviting them to cooperate and get involved in making this goal a reality. Carlos Alberto Fernández, Head of the Bioenergy and Waste Department at IDAE, praised the White Paper’s comprehensive view of the entire SAF value chain and stressed the “need for inter-ministerial collaboration” to make SAF a driving force for sustainability, rural development, the circular economy and industrialisation.

[Margarita de Gregorio, president of the Alliance for Air Transport Sustainability]

Carlos Martín and Florencio Michelena, coordinators of the AST’s SAF Working Group, presented the conclusions of the White Paper, outlining the aviation sector’s commitment to achieving CO₂ neutrality by 2050 and noting that SAFs are expected to account for more than 60% of the sector’s emission reductions. The analysis explains that these renewable fuels (both biological – bioSAF – and synthetic – eSAF) can reduce net emissions by up to 80% compared with fossil kerosene and are already certified for use in blends of up to 50%, with the goal of reaching 100% by 2030. They stressed the importance of developing mechanisms to stimulate SAF production in Spain, ranging from regulatory measures that provide stability and clarity, to authorisation processes for the technical approval of SAF, R&D support, administrative streamlining, and incentives for consumption and/or production, among other actions set out in the document.

The President of the Alliance, Margarita de Gregorio, stated that “the AST brings together 31 members, including public administrations, energy companies, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, airport operators, universities, research centres and social organisations, all sharing the common goal of advancing towards the defossilisation of air transport and contributing to making it climate neutral, competitive and responsible, while promoting strategic autonomy, sustainable industrialisation, competitiveness and the technological leadership of Spain and Europe in sustainable aviation”. According to the President, “only through shared, inclusive and cooperative action will it be possible to move towards an air mobility model that addresses the climatic, economic and social challenges of the future”.

'SAF in Spain: innovation, industry, autonomy and global competitiveness’

The White Paper identifies the REFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which sets binding SAF usage targets across Europe, as a major opportunity. The AST believes that Spain can capitalise on this through coordinated institutional action that promotes industrial investment and ensures the competitiveness of SAF compared with conventional kerosene — a view shared by the speakers at the event.

Mercedes Ballesteros, Director of Energy at CIEMAT, stated: “Science and innovation are key to scaling up SAF production in Spain by advancing mature technologies and accelerating the development of emerging pathways. It is strategic to transfer R&D to industry through stable incentives, collaboration between technology centres and companies, and policies that prioritise projects within the national territory. Strengthening public–private mechanisms such as PERTE (Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation), public procurement of innovation, and financing for the industrial scale-up of emerging technologies will help align science, industry and policy to establish Spain as a benchmark for sustainable and competitive SAF”.

Teresa Parejo, Director-General for Industrial Strategy and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, stated that “the development of SAF is not merely a regulatory obligation, but a historic opportunity for Spain. It enables us to reindustrialise sectors, attract new investment, and position ourselves as a European hub for sustainable fuels. With coordinated action across industry, energy, transport and tourism, we can build a solid value chain that generates skilled employment and strengthens our strategic autonomy”. For the Director-General, the goal is clear: “to ensure that the added value of this transition remains in Spain and reinforces our global competitiveness".

Olvido Moraleda, President of the Spanish Fuel Industry Association (AICE), stated that “we have the most flexible and competitive refining system in the entire European Union and are the third-largest power on the continent in terms of availability of sustainable raw materials, mainly waste, for the production of SAF and other renewable fuels”. She added that “the SAF industry represents a genuine opportunity to advance the decarbonisation of air transport and strengthen our strategic autonomy. To achieve this, we need a stable, long-term and clear regulatory framework that guarantees the principle of technological neutrality and encourages and provides certainty for investment in renewable fuel production— both nationally and at the European level”.

Ricardo Rojas, President of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus Spain, emphasised that “the decarbonisation of the aerospace sector is not only a challenge but also a unique opportunity to redefine the future of the industry through innovation and collaboration. SAF plays a key role in driving this transformation in aviation, making it more sustainable and efficient for future generations. Therefore, a collective effort by governments, industrial partners and all stakeholders is essential to ensure its availability”.

Javier Gándara, President of the Airline Association (ALA), concluded that “SAF is a national opportunity — not only for its potential to advance the decarbonisation of aviation and tourism, but also for its capacity to drive industrial transformation, the circular economy, and job and wealth creation. However, it remains a scarce and costly product, particularly eSAF. For this reason, its development must be encouraged, which requires a strong commitment from the Administration, with production incentives that enable Spain to position itself as a leader in SAF production”.

Coinciding with the publication of the White Paper, the Alliance has launched its new website — a space designed to showcase the initiatives, projects and stakeholders driving the transition towards sustainable air transport.

*The AST SAF White Paper and its executive summary are available on the AST website.

*Photographs of the presentation event are attached to the email.

Air Transport Sustainability Alliance (AST)

Founded in April 2023, the Air Transport Sustainability Alliance (AST) was created as a platform for cooperation and dialogue between the various public and private stakeholders involved in transforming air transport. The AST brings together all the sectors engaged in this transformation — public administrations, industry, energy, R&D, tourism and civil society — creating a space for multisector collaboration and integration. It promotes public–private dialogue and cooperation as the foundation for coordinated progress towards more sustainable air transport.

Contact for press inquiries

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