The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) are launching a survey as part of a collaborative Biomass Feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Project, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program that is administered by EEC.

SAF has become a major push across the globe as part of efforts to render aviation more environmentally friendly. Researchers have created a survey that will assess the risk associated with representative feedstocks that can be used to produce SAF in Kentucky. It can be found online and will be open through Dec. 31.

CAER and EEC request the assistance of any stakeholders dealing with these feedstocks to complete the quantitative and qualitative questionnaire. Stakeholders include producers, handlers, brokers, regulatory bodies and entities providing related goods and services of biomass feedstock.

“This SAF project supports Gov. Beshear’s Energy Strategy, KYE3, through the advancement of energy economic development and increasing fuel diversity, which is central to Kentucky’s Energy Security Plan,” said Kenya Stump, executive director of the Office of Energy Policy. “Aviation has an economic impact surpassing $18 billion in Kentucky, where it serves on average 14.8 million passengers annually and supports 134,000 jobs.” 

“Aviation is a major — and growing — industry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, associate director of CAER’s Sustainable and Alternative Fuels Group. “This study will help Kentucky take an important step towards becoming a SAF producing state.”

SAF has similar composition and properties as conventional jet fuel, with which it can be blended and rendered compatible with existing aircraft and aviation fuel infrastructure. However, SAF is also renewable, results in lower emissions and can be produced from feedstocks found in places with few petroleum deposits, like Kentucky.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as of 2022 84% of SAF was produced via the hydroprocessing of esters and fatty acids, which utilizes oleaginous biomass feedstocks collectively referred to as fats, oils and greases (FOG).

Because of the economic and employment impact the aviation industry has in Kentucky, it’s important to assess the risk of representative FOG feedstocks in Kentucky as a first step in setting up an SAF industry that would support this critical sector while creating new economic activity in the form of additional jobs and markets for its products.

SAF can be produced from soybean oil, corn oil and distillers corn oil, which are some of the most important agricultural commodities in Kentucky. In addition, SAF can also be produced from animal fats (from livestock rendering), yellow grease (used cooking oil) and brown grease (FOG recovered from grease traps and/or from wastewater treatment plants).

The questionnaire will close on Dec. 31, and complete the first phase of this project. All responses will be kept confidential. Results will be reported in an aggregate, anonymized format.

Respondents will be invited to participate in focus groups as well as in community engagement events in 2025, to clarify or elaborate on their responses and to learn about the insights gained through this work.

The questionnaire can be found here: https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_246K6Gi5k7UYgF8.