The successful scaling of SAF production depends on a skilled workforce

In a two-year project called Waypoint 2050, the aviation sector outlined several potential pathways to reach its 2050 goal and how, with the right support from governments, net-zero emissions could potentially be achievable a decade or so later.

The analysis shows that the implementation of radical new technologies such as commercial-scale electric, hybrid or hydrogen flight could be possible in the 2035-2040 timescale. This would be accompanied by improvements in operational and infrastructure performance. Importantly, a significant scaling-up of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will be needed, in the region of 450-500 million tonnes of SAF each year by 2050.

Waypoint 2050 explored three consolidated scenarios for how air transport can meet its goal. Which of these scenarios plays out over time will be determined by several decisions in the course of the coming decades:

• How will the industry balance investment in sustainable aviation fuel deployment and radical new technologies?
• Can energy providers meet the necessary scale-up of SAF and hydrogen production at the same time?
• Will governments, finance institutions and consumers play the role they need to accelerate the energy transitions?

Whilst the solution will likely be some combination of all the above, the important lesson learnt from the work in this report is that it can be done whilst ensuring that the growth of global connectivity continues. Aviation can meet its ambitious climate goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at a global level. Different studies have shown there is enough feedstock to produce the necessary SAF and hydrogen is a realistic possibility. Efficiency will continue to improve and modern air transport will remain a key driver of connectivity, business and social connections across the world well after 2050.

A transition in fuel and jobs: the scale-up of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

SAF could be the key to sustainable long-haul air travel, contributing hugely to the industry’s emissions-reduction strategy. In order to get the needed quantity of SAF flowing into the system, a significant transition will be needed, requiring jobs and skills to shift from fossil fuel to SAF. According to the Fuelling Net Zero report which was produced as part of the Waypoint 2050 study, the delivery of enough SAF to meet our net-zero carbon goal would require some 5,000 fuel refineries at a cost of some $1.45 trillion over the next 25 years.

However, the successful scaling of SAF production also depends on a skilled workforce capable of supporting the sector’s growth: an estimated 13.7 million jobs could be supported as part of this process. For the most part, these aren’t ‘aviation direct’ jobs, but would be included in the ‘indirect jobs’ included in the supply chain: many SAF plants would also produce other outputs, so some of these positions would serve other sectors and some would be temporary as construction of plants is ramped up.

Developing and upskilling the current workforce, recruiting workers during the process of upscaling for infrastructure development to meet targeted upscale as well as generating new expertise in SAF-related sectors, are critical to overcoming industry bottlenecks, such as:

• Skill gaps: many workers in traditional energy sectors may lack the specialised skills needed for SAF technologies, such as biochemical engineering, feedstock logistics, and advanced fuel processing.
• Training and upskilling: partnerships between governments, universities, vocational schools, and other institutions are essential to equip workers with the technical and operational skills required for SAF production and supply chain management.
• Specialised roles: SAF production involves highly technical roles in areas such as biorefinery operations, e-fuel synthesis, and infrastructure retrofitting. Investment in targeted skill development programmes can help fill these roles.
• Workforce expansion: The SAF industry will create opportunities across feedstock collection, processing, transportation, compliance and policy making, and research, necessitating new training programmes to prepare workers for these emerging fields.

The transition to SAF will create diverse employment opportunities across its value chain, encompassing feedstock collection, infrastructure development, production technologies, regulatory compliance and skill providers:

Feedstock sourcing, collection and preprocessing. As SAF production scales, the need Aviation Benefits Beyond Borders 37 for efficient and sustainable feedstock sourcing becomes increasingly critical. Roles in this segment include: biomass collection and transport; municipal waste processing; biogenic material separation; feedstock policy implementation; community engagement; research and development of new feedstock streams; and construction, operation and maintenance of feedstock collection centres.

Transportation and logistics. Effective coordination of feedstocks and intermediate products within the SAF supply chain is essential to ensuring a reliable and cost-efficient production system. Roles include logistics planning and execution; and sustainability auditing.

Infrastructure for refining. For short-term infrastructure development — such as extending existing facilities or installing new equipment — producers plan to rely on agencies and contractors on a contractual basis. When it comes to designing and constructing new SAF production plants, particularly at entirely new locations, producers see the need to hire specialised professionals. Some of these roles include: engineers in chemical, biochemical, and mechanical engineering; architects and systems designers; project managers; construction specialists, including structural engineers, electricians, and welders; process optimisation experts to ensure that the new plant operates efficiently and aligns with sustainability goals; technical and maintenance staff; helpers and labourers; operations management; and quality testing specialists. For power-to-liquid fuels, there will be an increased demand for professionals skilled in electricity and power management, as well as handling hydrogen.

Jobs in SAF conversion/production technologies. As SAF production scales up, both existing companies expanding their operations and new companies entering the market will drive job creation in conversion and production technologies. » SAF transportation to end user. As this transformation primarily involves transitioning from petroleum-based fuels to SAF within existing supply chain frameworks, and assuming no significant increase in the number of end users, the overall growth in transportation-related jobs may remain moderate.

Jobs in end users. As the adoption of SAF expands, end-user industries, particularly airlines, are increasingly involved in integrating SAF into their operations. This transition creates new job opportunities across procurement, logistics, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and carbon accounting, and fuel management processes.

To further develop SAF-specific technical skills, vocational training centres and SAF-related institutes play a crucial role. These institutions already support activities such as research participation, advisory roles, organising workshops, and aiding the commercialisation of SAF technologies. However, given the growing demands of the SAF industry, there is a need to expand the capacity of these centres and potentially establish additional institutes. This would help enhance the skillsets of both the existing workforce and new entrants, ensuring they are well-prepared to contribute to the development and scaling of SAF production technologies.

Investing in such specialised training initiatives is essential for bridging the gap between general academic knowledge and the specific technical requirements of the SAF sector.

This summary article was provided by Cranfield University academics and edited by Haldane Dodd, Executive Director, Air Transport Action Group, and is republished from the Benefits Beyond Borders report, available in full on the Aviation Benefits Beyond Borders website.

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