Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the U.S.: Current Volumes and Key Producers

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has emerged as a central pillar in the aviation industry’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions. While still in its early stages, SAF production in the United States is growing steadily, supported by federal incentives, airline demand, and investment from major fuel producers.

Current Production Volumes

As of 2024, the U.S. is producing approximately 15–20 million gallons of SAF per year—still a fraction of the country’s total annual jet fuel consumption, which exceeds 18 billion gallons. However, this figure is expected to increase significantly over the next few years as more production facilities come online and policy incentives take effect.

The U.S. Department of Energy, under the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge, has set a target of producing 3 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2030 and scaling up to 35 billion gallons by 2050, aligning with broader net-zero goals.

Major U.S. SAF Producers

World Energy

Based in California, World Energy operates one of the first commercial SAF production facilities globally, located in Paramount, CA. The company currently produces SAF using waste fats, oils, and greases through the HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) process and plans to expand capacity in coming years.

Neste (U.S. Operations)

Though headquartered in Finland, Neste is one of the world’s largest SAF producers and is rapidly expanding its presence in the U.S. It supplies SAF through partnerships with major U.S. airports and fuel distributors, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Gevo

Gevo is developing SAF from cellulosic sugars and alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology. Its Net-Zero 1 project in South Dakota is slated to produce up to 45 million gallons of SAF per year starting in 2026.

LanzaJet

Backed by investors including Shell and British Airways, LanzaJet is building the Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Georgia. It will use ethanol-based feedstocks to produce SAF at commercial scale and aims to produce 10 million gallons per year initially.

Chevron & Phillips 66

Major U.S. oil companies are entering the SAF space through co-processing and dedicated biofuel refinery investments. Phillips 66’s Rodeo Renewed project in California aims to become one of the largest renewable fuel producers in the country.

Conclusion

Though SAF volumes are still low relative to demand, U.S. production capacity is expanding rapidly. With growing investment from both legacy energy companies and climate-focused startups, the U.S. is positioning itself as a key player in the global SAF market.