Standalone and system-level perspectives on hydrogen-based sustainable aviation fuel pathways for Denmark

Hamza Abid, Iva Ridjan Skov, Brian Vad Mathiesen and Poul Alberg Østegaard

Energy, 2025, vol. 320, issue C

Abstract: Aviation is one of the most challenging sectors to electrify directly due to its high energy density demands. Hydrogen offers a pathway for indirect electrification in such sectors, enabling sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) production when combined with a carbon source. SAF produced via methanol or Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis (e-SAF) has higher volumetric density than hydrogen, remains liquid under standard conditions, and can be used as a direct drop-in fuel. Certain FT-based e-SAF pathways are already certified for use in blends, enhancing their appeal for sustainable aviation. This study evaluates e-SAF pathways in terms of resource efficiency and costs for different carbon sources. The results from both a standalone and system-level perspective indicate that biomass gasification-sourced carbon is the most energy-efficient pathway given biomass availability. For point-source and direct air capture pathways, electricity costs for renewable hydrogen dominate the overall costs, comprising about 70 % of total e-SAF costs. Given cheap renewable electricity and by-product revenues, e-SAF can achieve price levels of 0.5–1.1 €/litre, which is cost-competitive with their fossil-based counterparts. A breakeven electricity price of 9–29 €/MWh is needed for e-SAF made via a point source-based CO2 pathway, compared with a moderate aviation fossil fuel price of 0.5 €/litre.

Keywords: Sustainable aviation fuel; E-SAF; Power-to-liquid; Energy system analysis; Renewable energy system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225010928

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135450

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