Unraveling SAF Supply Chains: A Global Assessment of CORSIA-Certified Lipid-Based Biomass

Abstract The decarbonization of civil aviation remains one of the most complex challenges in the global energy transition, given the sector’s reliance on high-energy-density liquid fuels and the limited prospects for large-scale electrification. Within this context, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) represents the most immediately deployable mitigation option. However, the scalability of SAF is strongly constrained by feedstock availability, sustainability certification, and technological maturity. This review provides a critical and integrated assessment of lipid-based biomass certified under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), focusing on their chemical composition, technological conversion routes, greenhouse gas mitigation potential, and global production capacity. Eighteen oleaginous feedstocks, including vegetable oils, animal fats, processing residues, and waste-derived lipids, are systematically evaluated by correlating compositional attributes, impurity levels, seasonality, and logistics with conversion performance and Technology Readiness Levels. Particular emphasis is placed on the dominance of the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids pathway, which currently represents the most mature and commercially viable route for SAF production. The analysis demonstrates that second-generation feedstocks, especially residual and waste lipids, consistently outperform dedicated crops, achieving life-cycle greenhouse gas reductions of up to 80–90% relative to fossil jet fuel while minimizing land-use change impacts.