Collaborative action in the Pacific Northwest

Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) is a regional initiative in the Pacific Northwest of the United States sponsored by Alaska Airlines, The Boeing Company, the Port of Seattle, the Port of Portland, Spokane International Airport and Washington State University. These organisations have convened a diverse regional stakeholder group to determine the feasibility of developing regionally sourced, sustainable aviation fuels in the Pacific Northwest.

This regional assessment is being facilitated by the non-profit Climate Solutions, which has coordinated a series of workshops spread over nine months and is working on a report reflecting the consensus recommendations. The workshops, data analysis, and ongoing working groups are contributing to a final report which will:

• identify major barriers, opportunities and options for development of a sustainable aviation fuels industry in the Northwest;
• examine and analyse potential feedstock pathways available in the Pacific Northwest to supply sustainable aviation fuels, including oilseeds like camelina, forest residual waste, algae, waste materials and sugars;
• clarify the importance of evaluating and demonstrating the sustainability of biofuel production and include a framework for applying sustainability principles;
• illustrate potential trade-offs among various outcomes and alternative pathways; and
• evaluate the potential logistics and compatibility issues related to the introduction of sustainable biofuels at regional airports.

Through this process, SAFN stakeholders will identify a set of “flight plans” to create Northwest supply chains for sustainable aviation fuels. Importantly, the project will look at how the biomass and refining process can be used to supply both biofuel for use in aircraft and biodiesel for use in ground-based vehicles, ensuring that the most use can be made from the biomass possible. The stakeholders represent a wide range of interests, including aviation leaders, biofuel developers, growers, forest managers, federal, state and local governments, industry associations, environmental and conservation groups, universities and industries. Several political representatives are acting as observers of this collaborative effort.