KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that its projection for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) to triple to reach 1.9 billion litres (1.5 million tonnes) in 2024 is on track.

This would account for 0.53 per cent of aviation's fuel needs in 2024.

IATA emphasised the need for several policy measures to accelerate SAF use.

"Governments have set clear expectations for aviation to achieve a fiver per cent carbon dioxide emissions reduction through SAF by 2030 and to be net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

"They now need to implement policies to ensure that airlines can actually purchase SAF in the required quantities," said IATA director general Willie Walsh in a statement today.

The association said incentives to build more renewable energy facilities, strengthen the feedstock supply chain, and allocate a greater portion of renewable fuel output to aviation would help to decarbonise aviation.

"Governments can also facilitate technical solutions with accelerated approvals for diverse feedstocks and production methodologies as well as co-processing renewable feedstocks in crude oil plants," said Walsh.

IATA said incentives aimed at SAF could help facilitate the renewable diesel-SAF switch, which requires minimal modifications at existing stand-alone renewable fuel facilities.

It said that production of all renewable fuels will need to scale up rapidly, and among them, the need for a growing share of SAF production will necessitate strong policy support.

"One such articulated policy is the US Grand Challenge and the US$3 billion (RM14.1 billion) of investments it supports.

"Stable, long-term tax credits would further maximise SAF production capability in both existing and new facilities," it noted.

In a separate statement, IATA announced that it would establish the SAF Registry to accelerate the uptake of SAF by authoritatively accounting for and reporting emissions reductions from SAF.

Seventeen airlines, one airline group, six national authorities, three Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and one fuel producer are already supporting the effort to develop the registry.

The registry is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2025.