IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/trapol/v162y2025icp296-312.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bibliometric analysis and literature review on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): Economic and management perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Yuchao
  • Zhang, Yahua
  • Deng, Xin
  • Lee, Seung-Yong
  • Wang, Kun
  • Li, Linbo

Abstract

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key contributor to the aviation sector's efforts to achieve net-zero targets. This article presents a bibliometric analysis and literature review of 243 SAF-related publications from social science and quantitative disciplines, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. It highlights the latest research trends on the economic analysis of technological pathways, feedstocks, and policy interventions. Although SAF usage in commercial aviation is below 0.1% as of 2024, its decarbonisation potential could exceed 68%, particularly for medium- and long-haul flights. While biomass-based SAF faces constraints due to feedstock availability, the power-to-liquid pathway may offer a long-term solution. Five key themes have been identified in the literature: (1) sustainable certification of pathways and feedstocks, (2) economic simulations of alternative solutions, (3) economic feasibility of pathways and feedstocks, (4) supply chain dynamics and involvement of multiple stakeholders, and (5) policy interventions. Future studies could focus on economic simulations of airline competition under different SAF quotas, case studies on supply chain stakeholders, and the inclusion of grey literature for discussion. This research underscores the importance of international collaboration to create a level playing field for SAF adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Yuchao & Zhang, Yahua & Deng, Xin & Lee, Seung-Yong & Wang, Kun & Li, Linbo, 2025. "Bibliometric analysis and literature review on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): Economic and management perspective," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 296-312.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:162:y:2025:i:c:p:296-312
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.11.014
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X24003512
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.11.014?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Md Arif Hasan & Abdullah Al Mamun & Syed Masiur Rahman & Karim Malik & Md. Iqram Uddin Al Amran & Abu Nasser Khondaker & Omer Reshi & Surya Prakash Tiwari & Fahad Saleh Alismail, 2021. "Climate Change Mitigation Pathways for the Aviation Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-29, March.
    2. Babuder, Diego & Lapko, Yulia & Trucco, Paolo & Taghavi, Ray, 2024. "Impact of emerging sustainable aircraft technologies on the existing operating ecosystem," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Aria, Massimo & Cuccurullo, Corrado, 2017. "bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 959-975.
    4. Nazli Z. Uludere Aragon & Nathan C. Parker & Andy VanLoocke & Justin Bagley & Meng Wang & Matei Georgescu, 2023. "Sustainable land use and viability of biojet fuels," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 158-168, February.
    5. Gössling, Stefan & Humpe, Andreas, 2023. "Net-zero aviation: Time for a new business model?," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    6. Dinar Dewi Kania & Dian Artanti Arubusman & Mustika Sari & Ridho Bramulya Ikhsan & Safathira Zaldin, 2023. "Does ICAO’s climate change mitigation policy based on international agreements reflect global environmental justice?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 449-466, December.
    7. John R. Bartle & Rebecca K. Lutte & Deniz Zeynep Leuenberger, 2021. "Sustainability and Air Freight Transportation: Lessons from the Global Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Alexander Stauch & Adrian Müller, 2022. "Technology Assessment for Sustainable Aviation," Management for Professionals, in: Judith L. Walls & Andreas Wittmer (ed.), Sustainable Aviation, pages 23-50, Springer.
    9. Chen, Ruotian & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Kun & Jiang, Changmin, 2024. "Impacts of a sustainable aviation fuel mandate on airline competition — Full-service carrier vs. low-cost carrier," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    10. Mayeres, Inge & Proost, Stef & Delhaye, Eef & Novelli, Philippe & Conijn, Sjaak & Gómez-Jiménez, Inmaculada & Rivas-Brousse, Daniel, 2023. "Climate ambitions for European aviation: Where can sustainable aviation fuels bring us?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    11. Hamdan, Sadeque & Jouini, Oualid & Cheaitou, Ali & Jemai, Zied & Granberg, Tobias Andersson & Josefsson, Billy, 2022. "Air traffic flow management under emission policies: Analyzing the impact of sustainable aviation fuel and different carbon prices," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 14-40.
    12. Shiqing Zhang & Jianwei Wang & Wenlong Zheng, 2018. "Decomposition Analysis of Energy-Related CO 2 Emissions and Decoupling Status in China’s Logistics Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, April.
    13. Jinning Zhang & Ioannis Roumeliotis & Argyrios Zolotas, 2022. "Sustainable Aviation Electrification: A Comprehensive Review of Electric Propulsion System Architectures, Energy Management, and Control," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-30, May.
    14. Sofia Pinheiro Melo & Alexander Barke & Felipe Cerdas & Christian Thies & Mark Mennenga & Thomas S. Spengler & Christoph Herrmann, 2020. "Sustainability Assessment and Engineering of Emerging Aircraft Technologies—Challenges, Methods and Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-27, July.
    15. Braun, Matthias & Grimme, Wolfgang & Oesingmann, Katrin, 2024. "Pathway to net zero: Reviewing sustainable aviation fuels, environmental impacts and pricing," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    16. Eduardo Cabrera & João M. Melo de Sousa, 2022. "Use of Sustainable Fuels in Aviation—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, March.
    17. Dabin Xue & Kam K. H. Ng & Li-Ta Hsu, 2020. "Multi-Objective Flight Altitude Decision Considering Contrails, Fuel Consumption and Flight Time," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Leavitt, Elizabeth & Meyn, Stephanie & Purcell, Arlyn & Stanton, Leslie, 2018. "Moving toward sustainable aviation fuel at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport," Journal of Airport Management, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 12(4), pages 391-398, September.
    19. Ng, Kok Siew & Farooq, Danial & Yang, Aidong, 2021. "Global biorenewable development strategies for sustainable aviation fuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    20. Moaaz Shehab & Kai Moshammer & Meik Franke & Edwin Zondervan, 2023. "Analysis of the Potential of Meeting the EU’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Targets in 2030 and 2050," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, June.
    21. Smith, P.M. & Gaffney, M.J. & Shi, W. & Hoard, S. & Armendariz, I. Ibarrola & Mueller, D.W., 2017. "Drivers and barriers to the adoption and diffusion of Sustainable Jet Fuel (SJF) in the U.S. Pacific Northwest," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 113-124.
    22. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    23. Chen, Dan & Yin, Jianan & Xu, Feng & Huang, Chen & Li, Ziyu, 2023. "A market-based framework for CO2 emissions reduction in China's civil aviation industry," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 150-158.
    24. Singh, Jagroop & Sharma, Somesh Kumar & Srivastava, Rajnish, 2019. "What drives Indian Airlines operational expense: An econometric model," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 32-38.
    25. Cosgrove, Claire, 2018. "Green initiatives for sustainable airport services," Journal of Airport Management, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 12(4), pages 350-358, September.
    26. Matteo Prussi & Aikaterini Konti & Laura Lonza, 2019. "Could Biomass Derived Fuels Bridge the Emissions Gap between High Speed Rail and Aviation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-12, February.
    27. Anna Kwasiborska & Jacek Skorupski, 2021. "Assessment of the Method of Merging Landing Aircraft Streams in the Context of Fuel Consumption in the Airspace," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    28. Minami Kito & Hirotaka Takayabu & Keisuke Nansai, 2023. "Carbon‐neutral pathways to 2050 for Japan's aviation industry in the absence of a mass supply of sustainable aviation fuels," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1579-1592, December.
    29. Matteo Micheli & Daniel Moore & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2022. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Liquid Kerosene Produced from Renewable Electricity and CO 2 from Direct Air Capture in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, August.
    30. Ahmad, Salman & Ouenniche, Jamal & Kolosz, Ben W. & Greening, Philip & Andresen, John M. & Maroto-Valer, M. Mercedes & Xu, Bing, 2021. "A stakeholders’ participatory approach to multi-criteria assessment of sustainable aviation fuels production pathways," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    31. Jiang, Changmin & Yang, Hangjun, 2021. "Carbon tax or sustainable aviation fuel quota," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    32. Barrett, Stephen & Caldera-Petit, Eduardo, 2021. "Decarbonising gate operations through clean energy solutions," Journal of Airport Management, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 15(2), pages 160-171, March.
    33. Chenyu Gan & Qinglin Ma & Shengyu Bao & Xinming Wang & Tian Qiu & Shuiting Ding, 2023. "Discussion of the Standards System for Sustainable Aviation Fuels: An Aero-Engine Safety Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-28, December.
    34. Proost, Stef, 2024. "Looking for winning policies to address the climate issue in EU-aviation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    35. Pei‐Ju Wu & Chun‐Kai Yang, 2021. "Sustainable development in aviation logistics: Successful drivers and business strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3763-3771, December.
    36. Bullerdiek, Nils & Neuling, Ulf & Kaltschmitt, Martin, 2021. "A GHG reduction obligation for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the EU and in Germany," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    37. Antonio García-Olivares & Jordi Solé & Roger Samsó & Joaquim Ballabrera-Poy, 2020. "Sustainable European Transport System in a 100% Renewable Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    38. Yong Tian & Lina Ma & Songtao Yang & Qian Wang, 2020. "A Methodology for Calculating Greenhouse Effect of Aircraft Cruise Using Genetic Algorithm-Optimized Wavelet Neural Network," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2020, pages 1-13, October.
    39. Talal Yusaf & Louis Fernandes & Abd Rahim Abu Talib & Yazan S. M. Altarazi & Waleed Alrefae & Kumaran Kadirgama & Devarajan Ramasamy & Aruna Jayasuriya & Gordon Brown & Rizalman Mamat & Hayder Al Dhah, 2022. "Sustainable Aviation—Hydrogen Is the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, January.
    40. Otavio Cavalett & Francesco Cherubini, 2018. "Contribution of jet fuel from forest residues to multiple Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(12), pages 799-807, December.
    41. Mahdi Fasihi & Dmitrii Bogdanov & Christian Breyer, 2017. "Long-Term Hydrocarbon Trade Options for the Maghreb Region and Europe—Renewable Energy Based Synthetic Fuels for a Net Zero Emissions World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-24, February.
    42. Mahtani, Umesh S. & Garg, Chandra Prakash, 2018. "An analysis of key factors of financial distress in airline companies in India using fuzzy AHP framework," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 87-102.
    43. Keiser, Dennis & Schnoor, Lars Henrik & Pupkes, Birte & Freitag, Michael, 2023. "Life cycle assessment in aviation: A systematic literature review of applications, methodological approaches and challenges," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    44. Morenike Ajike Peters & Carine Tondo Alves & Jude Azubuike Onwudili, 2023. "A Review of Current and Emerging Production Technologies for Biomass-Derived Sustainable Aviation Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-40, August.
    45. Song, Miaojia & Zhang, Xinghua & Chen, Yubao & Zhang, Qi & Chen, Lungang & Liu, Jianguo & Ma, Longlong, 2023. "Hydroprocessing of lipids: An effective production process for sustainable aviation fuel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    46. Zheng, Shiyuan & Wang, Chunan & Jiang, Changmin, 2024. "Carrot or stick? Environmental and welfare implications of sustainable aviation fuel policies," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    47. Martini, Denise Zanatta & Aragão, Luiz Eduardo Oliveira e Cruz de & Sanches, Ieda Del'Arco & Galdos, Marcelo Valadares & da Silva, Cinthia Rubio Urbano & Dalla-Nora, Eloi Lennon, 2018. "Land availability for sugarcane derived jet-biofuels in São Paulo—Brazil," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 256-262.
    48. Staples, Mark D. & Malina, Robert & Suresh, Pooja & Hileman, James I. & Barrett, Steven R.H., 2018. "Aviation CO2 emissions reductions from the use of alternative jet fuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 342-354.
    49. Littorin, Henrik, 2021. "How Sweden’s roadmap for fossil-free aviation paved the way for a more constructive dialogue regarding aviation and climate change," Journal of Airport Management, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 15(3), pages 280-287, June.
    50. Stefan Gössling & Chris Lyle, 2021. "Transition policies for climatically sustainable aviation," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(5), pages 643-658, September.
    51. Candelaria Bergero & Greer Gosnell & Dolf Gielen & Seungwoo Kang & Morgan Bazilian & Steven J. Davis, 2023. "Pathways to net-zero emissions from aviation," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(4), pages 404-414, April.
    52. Emmanouilidou, Elissavet & Mitkidou, Sophia & Agapiou, Agapios & Kokkinos, Nikolaos C., 2023. "Solid waste biomass as a potential feedstock for producing sustainable aviation fuel: A systematic review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 897-907.
    53. Cooke, Erin & Bernheim, Anthony, 2022. "Beyond zero: Activating triple zero airports," Journal of Airport Management, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 16(2), pages 173-183, March.
    54. Seyed Hashem Mousavi-Avval & Sami Khanal & Ajay Shah, 2023. "Assessment of Potential Pennycress Availability and Suitable Sites for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Refineries in Ohio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-14, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Ruotian & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Kun & Jiang, Changmin, 2024. "Impacts of a sustainable aviation fuel mandate on airline competition — Full-service carrier vs. low-cost carrier," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    2. Paul Bardon & Olivier Massol & Arthur Thomas, 2025. "Greening aviation with sustainable aviation fuels : Insights from decarbonization scenarios," Post-Print hal-04874217, HAL.
    3. Zheng, Shiyuan & Wang, Chunan & Jiang, Changmin, 2024. "Carrot or stick? Environmental and welfare implications of sustainable aviation fuel policies," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    4. Wang, Yingzhi & Jiang, Xiushan & Ma, Jihui, 2025. "Emissions reduction of air transport and high-speed rail with policy intervention considering the modal competition in a network market: Environment and welfare implications," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 379-395.
    5. Tobias Mueller & Steven Gronau, 2023. "Fostering Macroeconomic Research on Hydrogen-Powered Aviation: A Systematic Literature Review on General Equilibrium Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-33, February.
    6. Chiambaretto, Paul & Laurent, Sara & Schmalz, Ulrike & Fu, Mengying & Rouyre, Audrey & Bildstein, Camille & Fernandez, Anne-Sophie, 2024. "Are consumers willing to pay more for green innovations? Insights from the air transport industry," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    7. Mauricio López Gómez & John Posada & Vladimir Silva & Lina Martínez & Alejandro Mayorga & Oscar Álvarez, 2023. "Diagnosis of Challenges and Uncertainties for Implementation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Colombia, and Recommendations to Move Forward," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-25, July.
    8. Mohd Hasan Wong, Fadhli Wong & Al Kez, Dlzar & Del Rio, Dylan Furszyfer & Foley, Aoife & Rooney, David & Abai, Mahpuzah, 2024. "Decarbonizing and offsetting emissions in the airline industry: Current perspectives and strategies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    9. Charlie Karlsson & Björn Hammarsssfelt, 2025. "The growth and development of Nordic regional science research 1982–2022: bibliometric evidence from thirteen regional science journals," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 74(1), pages 1-36, March.
    10. Wirapong Chansanam & Chunqiu Li, 2022. "Scientometrics of Poverty Research for Sustainability Development: Trend Analysis of the 1964–2022 Data through Scopus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    11. Zhichao Wang & Valentin Zelenyuk, 2021. "Performance Analysis of Hospitals in Australia and its Peers: A Systematic Review," CEPA Working Papers Series WP012021, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    12. Jaydarifard, Saeed & Morawska, Lidia & Paz, Alexander, 2024. "Mitigating airborne infection risks in public transportation: A systematic review," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 309-320.
    13. Cinzia Daraio & Simone Di Leo & Loet Leydesdorff, 2022. "Using the Leiden Rankings as a Heuristics: Evidence from Italian universities in the European landscape," LEM Papers Series 2022/08, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    14. Zamani, Mehdi & Yalcin, Haydar & Naeini, Ali Bonyadi & Zeba, Gordana & Daim, Tugrul U, 2022. "Developing metrics for emerging technologies: identification and assessment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    15. Dušan Nikolić & Dragan Ivanović & Lidija Ivanović, 2024. "An open-source tool for merging data from multiple citation databases," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(7), pages 4573-4595, July.
    16. Shiwangi Singh & Sanjay Dhir, 2019. "Structured review using TCCM and bibliometric analysis of international cause-related marketing, social marketing, and innovation of the firm," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 16(2), pages 335-347, December.
    17. Ivone de Bem Oliveira & Rhewter Nunes & Lucia Mattiello & Stela Barros-Ribeiro & Isabela Pavanelli Souza & Alexandre Siqueira Guedes Coelho & Rosane Garcia Collevatti, 2019. "Research and partnership in studies of sugarcane using molecular markers: a scientometric approach," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(1), pages 335-355, April.
    18. Pan Zhang & Yongjun Du & Sijie Han & Qingan Qiu, 2022. "Global Progress in Oil and Gas Well Research Using Bibliometric Analysis Based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-27, July.
    19. Lingjie Tang & Chang’an Zhang, 2024. "Analysis and Mapping of Scientific Literature on Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Global Immigrants (1963–2022)," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    20. Moaaz Kabil & Mohamed Abouelseoud & Faisal Alsubaie & Heba Mostafa Hassan & Imre Varga & Katalin Csobán & Lóránt Dénes Dávid, 2022. "Evolutionary Relationship between Tourism and Real Estate: Evidence and Research Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:162:y:2025:i:c:p:296-312. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30473/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.