Overview
The SAF University Research project is a four-year initiative at Trinity College Dublin, led by Professor Stephen Dooley and Assistant Professor Mohammad Reza Ghaani. The primary focus of the study is to identify how Ireland can establish a sustainable and viable supply chain for SAF raw materials, while also proposing scenarios for efficient, large-scale SAF production on the island. SAF is internationally recognised as a critical enabler of the aviation industry's goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
To meet this objective, the European Commission’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation obliges fuel suppliers to blend increasing levels of SAF into aviation fuel at EU airports. The legislation mandates incremental targets starting at 2% in 2025, rising to 6% by 2030, and reaching 70% by 2050.
Meeting these obligations represents a significant systematic challenge. To support the transition locally, the Irish government published its first national SAF Policy Roadmap in August 2025.
To achieve compliance and scale SAF production rapidly, technological innovation must be paired with access to reliable logistical and supply-chain data including what SAF feedstocks are available, in what quantities, where, when and at what cost. This project will address the basic but essential logistical data they would provide the initial basis by which to conceive realistic and informed SAF supply chains, and SAF production technology scenarios, that may combine to produce SAF with a market competitive selling price, over the coming ten-year period in Ireland.
(L-R) – Trevor Lydon, Airbus, Luke Van Der Wielen, UL, Stephen Dooley, TCD, Ray Gorman, Falko, Robert Asher, Orix, Alison O Connor, Avolon, Karl Griffin, Gensis, Elizabeth Bowen, ALI, Minister Jack Chambers, Eavan Kane, SES, Oisin Murray, CDB Aviation, Michael Dowling, DAE, Ed Colleran, ELFC, Mark O’ Kelly, ASL, John Burke, SMBC, Angus von Schoenberg, True Noord, Richard Hough, ELFC
Project details
Research
The outputs of this research will include PHD students producing two peer-reviewed papers demonstrating their findings. The first papers can be expected to be published before month 25 of the project. The second papers can be expected to be published in month 42 of the project. The project will conclude with the publications of the PHD thesis of each student, month 48 of the project.
Duration
ALI members have provided funding for two full time PhD students, working over four years.
University lead
- Stephen Dooley, Associate Professor, TCD
Partner
Funded by
