Recycling systems in South Korea could offer a flight path for the country to become a leader on producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), from says the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The institute stated that South Korea has “one of the world’s best waste recycling systems”, a strength that it could leverage to become a frontrunner in SAF production. The International Air Transport Association has forecast that 449 billion litres of SAF will be needed by 2050 to achieve net zero emissions in the aviation sector, while the International Renewable Energy Agency’s 1.5°C Scenario projects that bioenergy, including SAF, will account for more than 18% of the total final energy consumption by 2050. South Korea has expedited various SAF-related projects and policies since implementing a mandate in August 2024, which requires a 1% SAF blending starting in 2027. The South Korean government is in the process of designating SAF as a ‘national strategic technology’. It has launched a taskforce to develop a roadmap for mandatory SAF blending and plans to establish an experiment centre by 2031. “Widespread SAF adoption requires strong governance to balance sustainable feedstock use, environmental impact, and economic equity,” IEEFA stated. “Leveraging its strategic initiatives, waste recycling expertise, and leadership in the jet fuel market, South Korea is well-positioned to develop a domestic SAF industry and accelerate the transition toward a greener aviation future.”
