Liquid Fuels Scope 1 (Direct — fuel combustion, CH₄ and N₂O only)

Renewable Aviation Kerosene (SAF)

Reviewed by Afonso Firmo, Co-Founder & Director · Updated 7 July 2026

Renewable aviation kerosene (SAF) emits 0.0224 kg CO₂-e per litre in aircraft (NGA Factors 2025) — over 99% below jet fuel. Worked examples and calculator.

Emission Factor Value

0.0224 kg CO₂-e/litre

Try it with your own numbers

Renewable aviation kerosene consumed Unit

Estimated emissions

—

SAF combusted in aircraft you own or operate is Scope 1. Calculated as litres × 0.0224 kg CO₂-e/L (NGA Factors 2025, Table 9, aviation). In blends, only the renewable share takes this factor.

Official Source & Citation

This emission factor is sourced from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025 , Table 9 — Transport fuels (aviation); Table 8 for stationary use, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Citation: DCCEEW (2025). Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025. Commonwealth of Australia. Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-2025

View official publication ↗

Notes

Derived from NGA Factors 2025 Table 9 (aviation): energy content 36.8 GJ/kL × combined Scope 1 emission factor 0.61 kg CO₂-e/GJ (CO₂ zero-rated as biogenic; 0.01 CH₄ + 0.6 N₂O) = 22.45 kg CO₂-e/kL, i.e. 0.0224 kg CO₂-e per litre. For stationary use, Table 8 lists renewable aviation kerosene at 0.22 kg CO₂-e/GJ and 36.8 GJ/t (8.096 kg CO₂-e per tonne). No upstream Scope 3 factor is published for renewable aviation kerosene in the NGA Factors 2025.

Calculation Example

If your operations uplifted 100,000 litres of renewable aviation kerosene during the year:

Working	Result
100,000 L × 0.0224 kg CO₂-e/L = 2,240 kg CO₂-e	2.24 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Sustainable aviation fuel is the aviation sector’s main decarbonisation lever this side of new aircraft technology. Because the CO₂ from burning it is biogenic and zero-rated, renewable aviation kerosene lands in Scope 1 at a factor more than 100 times lower than the jet fuel it displaces.

The values below come from the NGA Factors 2025 and apply to the 2025–26 reporting year. A Scope 1 and 2 calculator can model blend scenarios against a conventional-fuel baseline.

Quick Verdict

Renewable aviation kerosene burned in aircraft emits 0.0224 kg CO₂-e per litre, reported under Scope 1 — against 2.5837 kg CO₂-e/L for conventional aviation turbine fuel, a 99.1% reduction per litre. The factor comes from Table 9 of the NGA Factors 2025: energy content 36.8 GJ/kL (identical to jet fuel) × 0.61 kg CO₂-e/GJ, with the biogenic CO₂ zero-rated and only CH₄ and N₂O counted. SAF blends are split by volume, with the conventional share taking the jet fuel factor. For non-operators buying flights, aviation fuel remains Scope 3 business travel.

How to Calculate Renewable Aviation Kerosene Emissions

Emissions (kg CO₂-e) = Litres of SAF × 0.0224

Or in NGA energy terms: E (t CO₂-e) = kL × 36.8 GJ/kL × 0.61 kg CO₂-e/GJ ÷ 1,000.

Worked Example 1: Charter Operator

A charter operator uplifts 20,000 litres of renewable aviation kerosene.

20,000 L × 0.0224 = 448 kg CO₂-e

0.45 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

The same 20,000 litres of conventional jet fuel would emit 20,000 × 2.5837 = 51,674 kg — 51.67 tonnes CO₂-e.

A regional airline’s cumulative SAF share across blended uplifts is 100,000 litres.

100,000 L × 0.0224 = 2,240 kg CO₂-e

2.24 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Worked Example 3: Airline Programme

An airline commits to 1,000 kilolitres (1,000,000 litres) of SAF for the year.

1,000,000 L × 0.0224 = 22,400 kg CO₂-e

22.40 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

How SAF Compares to Other Aviation and Renewable Fuels

Fuel	Scope 1 factor (kg CO₂-e/L)
Aviation turbine fuel (jet fuel)	2.5837
Aviation gasoline (avgas)	2.2395
Biodiesel (B100, cars & LCVs)	0.0865
Renewable aviation kerosene (SAF)	0.0224
Renewable diesel (cars & LCVs)	0.0197

All values from NGA Factors 2025, Table 9.

NGER and AASB S2 Reporting

For aircraft operators, SAF is reportable energy use under the NGER scheme: biogenic CO₂ is reported separately for information, while the CH₄ and N₂O count as Scope 1 with the Table 9 factors. Under AASB S2, SAF uptake typically appears both in the Scope 1 numbers and in transition-plan disclosures — keep blend evidence from suppliers, because the conventional share of every uplift still takes the full jet fuel factor.

Aviation Turbine Fuel

2.5837 kg CO₂-e/litre

Aviation Gasoline

2.2395 kg CO₂-e/litre

Renewable Diesel

0.0197 kg CO₂-e/litre

Biodiesel

0.0865 kg CO₂-e/litre

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the emission factor for renewable aviation kerosene in Australia?

Renewable aviation kerosene burned in aircraft emits 0.0224 kg CO₂-e per litre under the NGA Factors 2025 — derived from an energy content of 36.8 GJ/kL and a combined factor of 0.61 kg CO₂-e/GJ in Table 9. Conventional jet fuel emits 2.5837 kg CO₂-e/L, more than 100 times higher.

Is renewable aviation kerosene the same as SAF?

Effectively yes for accounting purposes — the NGA line covers sustainable aviation fuel produced from biogenic feedstocks that meets jet fuel specifications. It shares jet fuel's 36.8 GJ/kL energy content, so it substitutes litre-for-litre in aircraft.

Why is the SAF factor so low?

Because the CO₂ released on combustion is biogenic — recently absorbed from the atmosphere by the feedstock — and is zero-rated in the national accounts. Only the methane and nitrous oxide from the engines (0.01 and 0.6 kg CO₂-e/GJ) count toward Scope 1.

How do I account for SAF blends with conventional jet fuel?

Split by volume. SAF is currently certified for blends up to 50%: the renewable share takes 0.0224 kg CO₂-e/L and the conventional share takes the aviation turbine fuel factor of 2.5837 kg CO₂-e/L. Supplier documentation should evidence the blend percentage.

Which scope does SAF combustion fall under?

SAF burned in aircraft your organisation owns or operates is Scope 1 — CH₄ and N₂O only, with the biogenic CO₂ reported separately. For businesses buying flights rather than operating aircraft, aviation fuel sits in Scope 3 business travel regardless of the fuel type.

Is there a different factor for stationary use of renewable aviation kerosene?

Yes. Table 8 lists it for stationary purposes at 0.22 kg CO₂-e/GJ on a mass basis of 36.8 GJ/t, giving 8.096 kg CO₂-e per tonne — relevant to engine test cells and ground equipment rather than flight operations.

Does SAF eliminate aviation's climate impact?

No. It removes most of the fossil CO₂ from reported Scope 1, but non-CO₂ effects such as contrails remain, and feedstock production carries upstream emissions for which the NGA Factors publish no default. Treat SAF as a large reduction, not a zero.

Do I report SAF under NGER and AASB S2?

Yes. SAF consumption is reportable energy use under NGER for aircraft operators meeting thresholds, with biogenic CO₂ shown separately from the counted CH₄ and N₂O. Under AASB S2, the Scope 1 figure and SAF uptake commitments are standard climate-statement content.

Disclaimer

This page is provided for general information, not professional or compliance advice. The factor shown is reproduced from the official publication cited above, and while we work to keep it current, government factors change — the publication is always the authoritative source.

Before using this value in any formal reporting — including under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 — confirm it against the current official publication and the methods specified by the Clean Energy Regulator.
NetNada is independent of the Australian Government, DCCEEW, and the Clean Energy Regulator. Government data is Crown copyright, Commonwealth of Australia.

Back to all emission factors