Prioritizing Feedstocks for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production: An AHP-Based Approach

As the aviation industry seeks to reduce its carbon footprint, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) have emerged as a critical solution for achieving sustainability goals. The selection of appropriate feedstocks for SAF production is pivotal, given the diverse options available and their varying impacts on sustainability, cost, and scalability. This study aims to prioritize feedstocks for SAF production using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a well-established multi-criteria decision-making method. The feedstocks analyzed include waste oils and fats, municipal solid waste, cellulosic waste, cover crops, non-biogenic alternative fuels, jatropha, halophytes, and algae. The AHP framework was used to structure the decision-making process by organizing the feedstocks into a hierarchy, with the goal of identifying the most suitable option at the top level. Criteria such as environmental impact, economic viability, and technological maturity were considered in pairwise comparisons to determine the relative importance of each feedstock. The results reveal that Waste Oils and Fats (0.32), Municipal Solid Waste (0.24), and Cellulosic Waste (0.20) are the top feedstocks for Sustainable Aviation Fuel production. These feedstocks stand out due to their high sustainability potential and scalability. Their common strengths include efficient resource use and significant environmental benefits, making them key options for advancing SAF production. This study provides a systematic approach to feedstock selection, aiding the aviation industry in making informed decisions that align with sustainability objectives and the scaling of SAF production. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.