In Austria, a new IIASA-led study offers the first detailed estimates of land use change emissions for six sustainable aviation fuel production pathways. The authors focused on both food and non-food raw materials used to produce biofuels, using trusted global data sources to provide fine-scale emissions data.
The study, which has been published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, provides valuable information for policymakers and biofuel producers to make informed decisions about which crops to use and where to grow them to maximize environmental benefits.
The study looked at six different types of crops proposed by CORSIA—an international aviation emissions reduction program—for the production of sustainable aviation biofuels: soybeans, maize (corn), switchgrass, miscanthus, jatropha, and reed canary grass. The authors used spatial data with global coverage from IIASA sources to calculate the DLUC emissions for each of these crops.
The results showed that soybeans have the highest DLUC emissions on average, meaning they might not be the best choice to meet CORSIA emission reduction criteria. Jatropha and miscanthus had the lowest DLUC emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option, although their performance varied depending on where they were grown.
Due to the higher yields, miscanthus and switchgrass deliver the greatest production potential if cultivated in agricultural areas, replacing up to 20% of fossil kerosene consumption.
Tags: Austria, IIASA, SAF
Category: Research
