2019
Acquired
Image: Brussels Airport15.84%
QIC managed interest
Transport
Sector
Belgium
Location
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What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?7
SAF is an industry term that refers to jet fuels that generate less CO2 emissions than conventional fuels on a lifecycle basis. SAF fall into two main categories:
- eFuels (eSAF): produced from a combination of captured CO2 and hydrogen using renewable electricity. eSAF is carbon neutral with, in theory, no CO2 increase in its lifecycle.
- Biomass (SAF): produced from sources such as vegetable oils, ethanol, energy crops and municipal and agricultural waste. SAF achieves a reduction in net CO2 increase in its lifecycle.
Before use, SAF must currently be blended with kerosene, with most engines certified to have a maximum blend of 50% SAF. The industry is working towards 100% SAF certification.
Depending on the combination of production, feedstock and lifecycle factors, SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% (and theoretically 100% with eSAF) when compared to conventional A1-jet fuel.
As of 1 January 2023, Brussels Airport was successfully supplied with SAF through NATO’s Central European Pipeline System (CEPS).8 As the only Belgian airport fully supplied with kerosene through the NATO pipeline network, opening the pipeline for the supply of SAF signified an important milestone in sustainable aviation at Brussels Airport. The Stargate Consortium is also currently investigating the possibility of supplying ‘on demand’ high blend SAF to airlines, partnering with consortium partner Skytanking to test the viability of having a mobile blending facility at Brussels Airport.
With federal government support, Brussels Airport is granting a special financial incentive to promote the use of SAF, available to all airlines for all flights taking off from Brussels Airport in 2024. Together with airline fleet renewals, this is an important step in supporting the industry to progress toward a common net zero carbon by 2050 goal (International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International aligned). Brussels Airport has committed to net zero carbon (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030 at the latest.
Together these initiatives contribute to the airport’s efforts to progress towards the ambitious EU SAF targets (6%9 by 2030) with higher blend ratios.
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Figure 2: Brussels Airport SAF production chain [11] 
Figure 3: Multimodal transport at Brussels Airport [12]