Taiwan Eyes SAF Hub Amidst Feedstock Limits

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research in Taipei urges Taiwan to become a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and supply hub. The think tank released a 10-year roadmap assessing technologies like alcohol-to-jet (ATJ), HEFA, and Fischer-Tropsch, recommending ATJ as key to Taiwan’s long-term strategy due to limited domestic feedstock. Global oil and fat supplies for HEFA production are projected to reach their limits around 2035, requiring Taiwan to balance imports with domestic capacity.

The report emphasizes shifting from simply complying with international carbon reduction schemes to building a robust industrial strategy. Taiwan could leverage imported bioethanol to overcome its shortage of oils and fats, positioning itself as a regional conversion and distribution center.

The institution highlights the need for policy tools to ensure demand and establish a strong regulatory framework, potentially making Taiwan a green aviation hub in the Asia Pacific region, though the high cost of SAF remains a challenge.