FinancingSustainableAviationFuels:CaseStudiesandImplicationsforInvestmentWHITEPAPERFEBRUARY2025IncollaborationwithKearneyImages:GettyImagesDisclaimerThisdocumentispublishedbytheWorldEconomicForumasacontributiontoaproject,insightareaorinteraction.Thefindings,interpretationsandconclusionsexpressedhereinarearesultofacollaborativeprocessfacilitatedandendorsedbytheWorldEconomicForumbutwhoseresultsdonotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsoftheWorldEconomicForum,northeentiretyofitsMembers,Partnersorotherstakeholders.©2025WorldEconomicForum.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,includingphotocopyingandrecording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem.ContentsForeword3Executivesummary41Capitalrequirementstomeet2030demand61.1Capacityrequirementstomeet2030demandforSAF61.2Costrequirementsbypathway101.3Investmentneedstomeet2030demand132TheprojectlifecycleandfundingneedsofaSAFrefinery142.1OverviewoftheSAFprojectlifecycle142.2Fundraisingchallengesacrosstheprojectlifecycle163LeversforattractingmorefundingintoaSAFproductionfacility19Lever1Applyforresearch/innovationgrantstodevelop20first-of-a-kindfacilitiesLever2Leveragelocalexpertiseofmultilateraldevelopment21bankstonavigatedevelopingmarketsLever3Secureguaranteesorinsuranceinstruments23toenhancecreditprofileLever4Attractstrategicindustryinvestorstobuild25anecosystemforfuturescaleLever5Securelong-termofftakeagreementstopassFID26Lever6Engageinbook-and-claimtofacilitateinvestments29Lever7Attractprivateequitycapitaltoachieverapidexpansion32Lever8Attractinfrastructureinvestorstoaccesscheapercapital33Lever9Structureinvestmentthroughatollermodel35toattractmoredebtLever10Issuegreenbondstoattractimpactinvestors36Conclusion38Contributors40Endnotes42FinancingSustainableAviationFuels2ClaudiaGaleaGlobalSustainabilityDirector,KearneyForewordThiswhitepaperispartoftheWorldEconomicForum’sAirportsofTomorrowinitiative,launchedin2023tofocusontheenergy,infrastructureandfinancingrequirementsoftheaviationindustryasittransitionstonet-zerocarbonemissionsby2050.TheinitiativeisacollaborationwithAirportsCouncilInternational(ACI)World.Tohelpaviationgettonetzeroandreduceitsimpactonclimatechange,anincreasingnumberofsustainableaviationfuel(SAF)productionfacilitiesaredevelopingworldwide,butmanyprojectsstillfaceinvestmentchallenges.Akeyareasoffocusforusin2024wasonhowthesefacilitiescanprogresstotheconstructionphaseandfullscale-up.Wehaveundertakenaseriesofregionalroundtablesandexpertinterviewswithbusinessleadersintheaviation,energyandfinanceindustries,aswellaspolicy-makers,toobtaininsightsonthelatestrisksthatprojectdevelopersfaceacrosstheprojectlifecycleforanumberofSAFproductionpathways,addingtoourandtheindustry’spreviousworkinthisspace.Wehavelookedatthecapitalrequirementsneededtobringthesefacilitiestolifeand,mostimportantly,potentialwaystounlockthisfunding.ThisreportcollatesbestpracticeguidanceonhowtoapproachSAFinvestmentandreducerisks,focusingoncommonchallengesinsecuringfinancingandearlysuccessstories.DeliveredinpartnershipwithKearney,thisreportbringstogetherviewsandinsightsfromourextensiveAirportsofTomorrowcommunity.Wethankourpartnersandindustrysponsorsfortheirsupport.GiorgioParoliniLead,AviationDecarbonization,WorldEconomicForumFinancingSustainableAviationFuels:CaseStudiesandImplicationsforInvestmentFebruary2025Fina...