Aviation fuel supplies face mounting pressure as demand outpaces production, forcing researchers to evaluate alternative jet fuels that could stabilize the industry's fuel chain. The Netherlands Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) examined five alternative aviation fuels to determine whether they can replace or supplement traditional Jet A and A-1 fuels, which dominate global aviation markets.
The research responds to a concrete supply problem. Commercial aviation consumes massive volumes of refined petroleum daily, and conventional jet fuel production depends on specific crude oil fractions. Supply disruptions from geopolitical events, refinery constraints, or maintenance outages create cascading problems across airlines and airports. Growing aviation demand compounds this vulnerability.
Alternative jet fuels include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen-based options, and other synthetic blends. Each faces different hurdles. SAF production scales slowly despite regulatory support. Hydrogen requires new aircraft engines and infrastructure that do not yet exist at commercial scale. Other synthetic fuels demand energy-intensive manufacturing processes.
The NLR study assesses which alternatives deliver the fastest, most practical relief. Factors include production capacity, infrastructure compatibility, cost competitiveness, and engine certification timelines. Some fuels drop directly into existing aircraft with minimal modifications. Others require engine redesigns or new aircraft altogether, extending deployment timelines by years.
Jet fuel markets show no slack. Global aviation expands steadily, particularly in Asia, where air travel growth outpaces Western markets. Simultaneously, refinery capacity shrinks in developed nations as companies shift investment toward renewable energy. This mismatch tightens fuel availability.
The aviation industry has committed to reducing emissions through sustainable fuels and efficiency improvements. The International Air Transport Association targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. SAF offers the nearest-term pathway toward lower-carbon flights, though production remains limited and expensive.
Alternative fuels alone cannot solve the problem immediately. The