IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i18p4978-d1753199.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decarbonizing Aviation: The Low-Carbon Footprint and Strategic Potential of Colombian Palm Oil for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Author

Listed:
  • David Arturo Munar-Flórez

    (Biorefinery and Sustainability Area, Cenipalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Nidia Elizabeth Ramírez-Contreras

    (Biorefinery and Sustainability Area, Cenipalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Jorge Alberto Albarracín-Arias

    (New Business Development Area, Fedepalma (Until December 2022), Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Phanor Arias-Camayo

    (Research Results Validation Area, Cenipalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Víctor Rincón-Romero

    (Geomatic Area, Cenipalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Jesús Alberto García-Núñez

    (Processing Program, Cenipalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Camilo Ardila-Badillo

    (Research Results Validation Area, Cenipalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

  • Mónica Cuéllar-Sánchez

    (New Business Development Area, Fedepalma, Bogotá, Colombia)

Abstract

The global energy transition is pushing the development of advanced biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the aviation industry. This study thoroughly evaluates the potential of the Colombian crude palm oil (CPO) sector to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. Extensive primary data from 53 palm oil mills and 269 palm plantations were examined. The methodology included a carbon footprint analysis of SAF produced from Colombian CPO through the HEFA pathway, an economic aspects analysis, a review of renewable fuel standards, and an assessment of market access for low-CO 2 -emitting feedstocks. The results show that the carbon footprint of the Colombian palm oil-SAF is 16.11 g CO 2 eq MJ −1 SAF, which is significantly lower than the 89.2 g CO 2 eq MJ −1 reference value for traditional jet fuel. This figure considers current direct Land Use-Change (DLUC) emissions and existing methane capture practices within the Colombian palm oil agro-industry. A sensitivity analysis indicated that this SAF’s carbon footprint could decrease to negative values of −4.58 g CO 2 eq MJ −1 if all surveyed palm oil mills implement methane capture. Conversely, excluding DLUC emissions from the assessment raised the values to 47.46 g CO 2 eq MJ −1 , highlighting Colombia’s favorable DLUC profile as a major factor in its low overall CPO carbon footprint. These findings also emphasize that methane capture is a key low-carbon practice for reducing the environmental impact of sustainable fuel production, as outlined by the CORSIA methodology. Based on the economic analysis, investing in Colombian CPO-based SAF production is a financially sound decision. However, the project’s profitability is highly susceptible to the volatility of SAF sales prices and raw material costs, underscoring the need for meticulous risk management. Overall, these results demonstrate the strong potential of Colombian palm oil for producing sustainable aviation fuels that comply with CORSIA requirements.

Suggested Citation

  • David Arturo Munar-Flórez & Nidia Elizabeth Ramírez-Contreras & Jorge Alberto Albarracín-Arias & Phanor Arias-Camayo & Víctor Rincón-Romero & Jesús Alberto García-Núñez & Camilo Ardila-Badillo & Mónic, 2025. "Decarbonizing Aviation: The Low-Carbon Footprint and Strategic Potential of Colombian Palm Oil for Sustainable Aviation Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:18:p:4978-:d:1753199
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/18/4978/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/18/4978/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Prussi, Matteo & Lee, Uisung & Wang, Michael & Malina, Robert & Valin, Hugo & Taheripour, Farzad & Velarde, César & Staples, Mark D. & Lonza, Laura & Hileman, James I., 2021. "CORSIA: The first internationally adopted approach to calculate life-cycle GHG emissions for aviation fuels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. 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).
    3. 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.
    4. Nidia Elizabeth Ramírez-Contreras & David Munar-Florez & Floor van der Hilst & Juan Carlos Espinosa & Álvaro Ocampo-Duran & Jonathan Ruíz-Delgado & Diego L. Molina-López & Birka Wicke & Jesús Alberto , 2021. "GHG Balance of Agricultural Intensification & Bioenergy Production in the Orinoquia Region, Colombia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-29, March.
    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. Xue, Dabin & Du, Sen & Wang, Bing & Shang, Wen-Long & Avogadro, Nicolò & Ochieng, Washington Yotto, 2025. "Low-carbon benefits of aircraft adopting continuous descent operations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 383(C).
    2. Grzegorz M. Szymański & Bogdan Wyrwas & Klaudia Strugarek & Mikołaj Klekowicki & Malwina Nowak & Aleksander Ludwiczak & Alicja Szymańska, 2025. "Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Selection of Alternative Fuels for Pulse Engines in the Aspect of Environmental Protection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-31, July.
    3. Seber, Gonca & Escobar, Neus & Valin, Hugo & Malina, Robert, 2022. "Uncertainty in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of sustainable aviation fuels from vegetable oils," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    4. Groppi, Daniele & Pastore, Lorenzo Mario & Nastasi, Benedetto & Prina, Matteo Giacomo & Astiaso Garcia, Davide & de Santoli, Livio, 2025. "Energy modelling challenges for the full decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    5. Bellanger, Manuel & Scemama, Pierre & Bailly, Denis & Friedman, Shani & Massé, Ugo & Richard, Joëlle & Thébaud, Olivier, 2025. "A stakeholder perspective on the drivers and barriers influencing the emergence of deep-sea mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    6. Alexandrou, Stathis & Khatiwada, Dilip, 2025. "Strategies for decarbonizing the aviation sector: Evaluating economic competitiveness of green hydrogen value chains - A case study in France," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    7. Jiang, Changmin & Liu, Yan, 2025. "The role of sustainable aviation fuel in CORSIA: An economic analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    8. Angelo C. Gurgel & Joaquim E. A. Seabra & Sofia M. Arantes & Marcelo M. R. Moreira & Lee R. Lynd & Rosana Galindo, 2024. "Contribution of double-cropped maize ethanol in Brazil to sustainable development," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(11), pages 1429-1440, November.
    9. Bardon, Paul & Massol, Olivier, 2025. "Decarbonizing aviation with sustainable aviation fuels: Myths and realities of the roadmaps to net zero by 2050," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    10. Burov, Nikita O. & Savelenko, Vsevolod D. & Ershov, Mikhail A. & Vikhritskaya, Anastasia O. & Tikhomirova, Ekaterina O. & Klimov, Nikita A. & Kapustin, Vladimir M. & Chernysheva, Elena A. & Sereda, Al, 2023. "Knowledge contribution from science to technology in the conceptualization model to produce sustainable aviation fuels from lignocellulosic biomass," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    11. Mandegari, Mohsen & Ebadian, Mahmood & Saddler, Jack (John), 2023. "The need for effective life cycle assessment (LCA) to enhance the effectiveness of policies such as low carbon fuel standards (LCFS's)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    12. 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.
    13. 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).
    14. He, Xin & Wang, Ning & Zhou, Qiaoqiao & Huang, Jun & Ramakrishna, Seeram & Li, Fanghua, 2024. "Smart aviation biofuel energy system coupling with machine learning technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    15. Matteo Prussi & Lorenzo Laveneziana & Lorenzo Testa & David Chiaramonti, 2022. "Comparing e-Fuels and Electrification for Decarbonization of Heavy-Duty Transports," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-17, October.
    16. Wang, Jiqiang & Wang, Ya & Zhang, Shaohui & Fan, Chun & Zhou, Nanqing & Liu, Jinhui & Li, Xin & Liu, Yun & Hou, Xiujun & Yi, Bowen, 2024. "Accounting of aviation carbon emission in developing countries based on flight-level ADS-B data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    17. 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).
    18. Ahmed Younis & René Benders & Jezabel Ramírez & Merlijn de Wolf & André Faaij, 2022. "Scrutinizing the Intermittency of Renewable Energy in a Long-Term Planning Model via Combining Direct Integration and Soft-Linking Methods for Colombia’s Power System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-24, October.
    19. Matteo Prussi, 2024. "Applying the International Maritime Organisation Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines to Pyrolysis Oil-Derived Blends: A Sustainable Option for Marine Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, October.
    20. Zhang, Peiwen & Ding, Rui, 2023. "How to achieve carbon abatement in aviation with hybrid mechanism? A stochastic evolutionary game model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:18:p:4978-:d:1753199. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.