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Knowledge Hub

Trending topics, key insights, and FAQs. 

Partner Spotlight: Boston Consulting Group

A collaboration with World Energy helps to meet the company’s ambitious environmental goals.

World Energy: A World of Difference

World Energy has led the way with American innovation and competitive advantage in biofuels, and we’re continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Collaboration Across the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Value Chain

Creating a virtuous cycle to expand SAF production and distribution. This approach can work in other sectors hoping to grow with renewable biofuels.

Green Hydrogen 101

As industries, governments, and researchers around the world continue to explore ways to expand energy sources and lower industrial emissions, green hydrogen is attracting investment and innovation.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel 101

Understanding what SAF is, how it’s made, and the various production challenges and opportunities can help aviation leaders make informed decisions about renewable biofuels.

Insets vs Offsets

Insets empower businesses with a market-based tool to reduce emissions efficiently and effectively.

How Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificates (SAFc) Work to Support Clean Energy Innovation

A market-driven approach to advancing the SAF industry efficiently, effectively, and economically.

What is Book & Claim and Why Does It Matter?

Book & Claim is unlocking the potential for more customers in more places to benefit from biofuels.

Five Things You Need to Know About Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a clean-burning fuel that is helping companies reduce their emissions while growing their business.

How Does It All Work?

We’re enabling companies to reduce emissions, regardless of their location or industry. 

Insets

We help companies meet their environmental goals with solutions like sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). These in-sector tools can help your company lower emissions across your value chain. 

Sustainable Fuels

We are a global leader in the production and supply of sustainable fuels. We pride ourselves on best-in-class carbon intensity, rigorous environmental standards, and transparent reporting.

FAQs

What is sustainable aviation fuel?

Sustainable aviation fuel, also known as SAF, is a biofuel. SAF is made from renewable feedstocks like agricultural waste fats, oils, greases and certain cover crops. It can reduce emissions by up to 85% over its life cycle and with no particulates, it burns cleanly, which is good for our air and water. Sustainable aviation fuel is a drop-in fuel solution, meaning it can be used in existing aircraft engines and infrastructure without any modifications. SAF is in use today, blended with traditional jet fuel. 

What sets sustainable aviation fuel apart?

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a new source of domestic energy for the aviation industry, which has been experiencing record high demand for passenger and cargo transport and is expected to continue growing. Supplying the feedstocks for this biofuel enables farmers to profit from agricultural waste and develop new, dependable revenue streams from crop innovations. SAF burns without particulates, for cleaner air, and depending on how it’s made, SAF reduces emissions by up to 85% over its life cycle. This combines competitive environmental benefits with responsible business, adding value for everyone.  

How is sustainable aviation fuel made?

While eight technology pathways have been certified to produce sustainable aviation fuel, hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA), alcohol to jet (AtJ) and power to liquid (PtL) are the three most common. 

Right now, HEFA is the only method that can produce commercial-scale volumes of sustainable aviation fuel, and it is used for the vast majority (95%) of all SAF-powered flights. HEFA SAF is refined from agricultural products such as soybean, corn, and canola oil, waste oils (like used cooking oil), and waste animal fats via a process that uses hydrogen (hydrodeoxygenation). World Energy focuses on this production method since the technology is more mature and reliable. It is also the easiest to implement because existing equipment can be adapted for the process. 

Right now, HEFA is the only method that can produce commercial-scale volumes of sustainable aviation fuel, and it is used for the vast majority (95%) of all SAF-powered flights. HEFA SAF is refined from vegetable oils (such as soybean, corn, and canola oil), waste oils (like used cooking oil), and animal fats via a process that uses hydrogen (hydrodeoxygenation). World Energy focuses on this production method since the technology is more mature and reliable. It is also the easiest to implement because existing equipment can be adapted.

Can sustainable aviation fuel be used in existing aircraft?

Yes. SAF is a drop-in fuel that can be used in existing aircraft with no modifications. World Energy’s sustainable aviation fuel is currently approved at a 50/50 blend level with conventional jet fuel for commercial use

What standards and certifications do World Energy’s facilities and fuels meet?

World Energy’s carbon intensity score leads the industry, and we comply with the most rigorous environmental standards. The management systems for our facilities and feedstocks are certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), an internationally recognized and trusted standards certification system organization.   

Our Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is certified in compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). It also follows RSB Global standards. This ensures rigorous accounting for the carbon inputs and other sustainability-related impacts associated with our fuels.    

Is there enough sustainable aviation fuel to meet demand?

No. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF accounted for only 0.2 percent of global jet fuel use in 2023. Collaborations and investments are key to adding to the SAF supply and expanding energy resilience in aviation. Sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) are one of the fastest ways to help scale SAF production and technologies.   

What are SAF certificates and how do they reduce my company’s carbon emissions?

Delivered via Book & Claim, SAF certificates (SAFc) provide an efficient, market-based solution for increasing investment into the industry and scaling SAF supply. SAFc deliver emissions benefits for Scope 1 or Scope 3 customers in any sector.  

By purchasing SAFc, a company is purchasing the environmental benefits of SAF and is able to verifiably apply those benefits against their aviation emissions. Instead of transporting the physical fuel across the country, the fuel is used at an airport close to a production facility, minimizing the logistical burden, transport costs, and emissions of adding it to the supply chain. 

What is Book & Claim?

Book & Claim is a chain of custody model that allows us to decouple and track SAF’s environmental attributes separately from the physical fuel. With Book & Claim, the environmental attributes of the fuel are calculated, transparently tracked, and allocated to the appropriate owner. Book & Claim is recognized as a credible and necessary method to reduce supply chain emissions and scale the market for sustainable fuels.   

What are insets?

Insets are a mechanism that delivers carbon reduction in the same sector the emissions were created, giving companies the power to address their Scope 3 emissions. Sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) are a type of inset because they deliver carbon reduction within the aviation industry. Insets allow companies to maximize both competitiveness and responsible business strategy at the same time, benefitting companies and consumers alike.  

What is the difference between insets and offsets?

Insets and offsets are both tools a company can use to reduce its carbon footprint, but they differ in both approach and impact.  

Insetting is a long-term strategy that requires deep commitment and planning. It enhances a company’s overall sustainability by reducing Scope 3 emissions and strengthening value chain resilience. 

Offsetting does not contribute to reducing operational emissions because it involves investing in external projects to counteract CO2 or GHG emissions, like reforestation. It’s easier to implement but its environmental benefits can be hard to verify and track reliably.  

What is renewable diesel and how is it used?

Renewable diesel (RD) is a domestically produced biofuel. It is 99.9% renewable, made from agricultural inputs including waste fats, oils, and greases. Our RD contains no aromatics or impurities, produces no odor, combusts with maximum efficiency for high performance, and can help reduce emissions by approximately 85%.  RD also decreases the frequency of injector maintenance and diesel particulate filter replacements.    

RD is chemically the same as petroleum diesel. It is designed as a drop-in fuel solution for heavy duty trucks and any marine vessel that can operate on #2 diesel fuel. It can be used in all modern diesel engines. 

What is green hydrogen and how is it used?

Green hydrogen is hydrogen that’s produced by using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Green hydrogen can be used to expand energy sources and lower emissions in key industries such as shipping and steel. 

What is renewable naphtha and how is it used?

Renewable naphtha is a fuel component that can be used to decrease the environmental impact of various chemical processes including the creation of plastics, chemicals, and consumer goods.