FAA Programs Highlight Opportunities for ILTA Members to Participate in the Growing SAF Market

On September 18, ILTA hosted its monthly Energy Evolution webinar featuring Dr. Prem Lobo, the Energy Division Manager at the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Environment and Energy. At the FAA, Prem is responsible for managing a broad portfolio of research, development, and deployment projects associated with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This includes the Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) discretionary grant program that provided grants to support the build out of infrastructure projects related to SAF production, transportation, blending, storage, and scoping studies. Prem provided an overview of the FAST-SAF program, the development of the SAF market, and discussed other funding and engagement opportunities for terminals and the SAF industry. 

Prem gave a high-level summary of the FAST-SAF program, outlining how it provided nearly $250 million in grants to support infrastructure projects related to the production, transportation, blending, and storage of SAF. He emphasized the importance of this infrastructure buildout for the growth of the SAF industry, highlighting the critical role of terminals and other supply chain nodes in the storage and blending processes. Prem discussed the outlook of the industry, noting that demand continues to grow as a result of airlines’ commitments and international mandates. Although the FAST-SAF program’s funds are fully allocated, Prem encouraged applicants to contact the program’s email to understand why their applications were not selected, especially in the event of future funding rounds. Additionally, he urged terminals and other industry members to share the challenges they face in building and deploying SAF infrastructure to inform future funding opportunities.