Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Renewable diesel and SAF: Relationships

Every element and industry that Renewable diesel and SAF is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

  • Aviation propulsion: Sustainable aviation fuel is a drop-in replacement for jet fuel that existing engines can burn in blends, but it was only about 0.6% of jet fuel in 2025 and costs at least twice as much. Its growth is set by mandates such as ReFuelEU and India's CORSIA-linked targets, not by price. (researched)
  • Biodiesel (FAME): FAME biodiesel and hydrotreated renewable diesel and SAF are two routes for the same fats and oils. Renewable diesel is a better fuel and earns more credit per gallon in the US, so as waste oil supplies run out the two compete hard for feedstock, with policy deciding who wins. (researched)
  • Palm oil: Palm oil is the largest single feedstock for diesel-type biofuels worldwide, and its mill residues are prized as waste-based inputs for renewable diesel and SAF. EU rules are pushing virgin palm oil out of these fuels by 2030 while rewarding residues, which has created incentives to mislabel palm oil as waste. (researched)
  • Refining and reforming: Renewable diesel and SAF are made with refinery kit, hydrotreaters and hydrogen, so oil refiners make them either by co-processing fats with crude fractions or by converting whole refineries; the fuels then sell into the same diesel and jet markets. (researched)
  • Transport and logistics: Renewable diesel (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel are drop-in fuels that let trucks and aircraft cut emissions without new engines, but SAF was only about 0.6% of jet fuel in 2025 at roughly twice the price, so mandates such as ReFuelEU and India's 2027 target turn them into a cost line for airlines and logistics firms. (researched)
  • Rapeseed: Rapeseed is a raw material for renewable diesel and SAF; their prices have moved together.
  • Aerospace and defence: Aerospace and defence depends on renewable diesel and SAF.
  • Biomass: Energy flows from biomass to renewable diesel and SAF.
  • Combustion road vehicles: Energy flows from renewable diesel and SAF to combustion road vehicles.
  • Crude oil: Their prices have moved together.
  • Hospitality and tourism: Hospitality and tourism depends on renewable diesel and SAF.
  • Hydrogen: Their prices have moved together.
  • Soybeans: Soybeans is a raw material for renewable diesel and SAF.
  • Tankers, barges and fuel trucks: Energy flows from renewable diesel and SAF to tankers, barges and fuel trucks.
  • Thermochemical biomass conversion: Energy flows from thermochemical biomass conversion to renewable diesel and SAF.