As the aviation industry accelerates its efforts toward net-zero emissions, , Acting Dean of the 爱污传媒鈥檚 (USF鈥檚) Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS), was invited to speak at the Airports Going Green Conference in Tampa on Monday, November 3rd. The topic of his panel discussion was to explore one of the field鈥檚 most pressing challenges: making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) economically viable.
Dr. George Philippidis participates in "Sustainable Aviation Fuel is the Answer鈥� What Was the Question?" panel
Dr. Philippidis was part of the panel, 鈥淪ustainable Aviation Fuel is the Answer鈥� What Was the Question?鈥�, which brought together industry leaders from PA Consulting, United Airlines, and the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Institute. The discussion focused on testing SAF, scaling its production, reducing costs, and building collaborative pathways to decarbonize air travel.
Drawing from his experience in both academia and industry, Dr. Philippidis emphasized that while the technologies to produce SAF already exist, the real challenge lies in the economics.
All these technologies are technically feasible. The big question is, are they economically feasible? Not yet 鈥� but we鈥檙e making progress.
Dr. George Philippidis
Acting Dean, Patel College of Global Sustainability
He explained that the cost of SAF currently ranges from three to five times higher than conventional jet fuel, highlighting the importance of reducing production costs through innovation, logistics optimization, and strategic partnerships.
鈥淓very new technology needs some assistance to get started,鈥� Dr. Philippidis said. 鈥淏ut the long-term vision is to make SAF market-driven rather than policy-driven.鈥�
Multiple Pathways, One Mission
During the panel, Dr. Philippidis detailed how various feedstocks and technologies can contribute to a sustainable future for aviation. From vegetable and waste oils to agricultural residues, algae, and other forms of biomass, the Patel College is researching diverse conversion processes 鈥� including thermochemical and Fischer-Tropsch methods 鈥� to produce renewable fuels that meet ASTM certification standards.
鈥淲e need all of the above,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭o move from millions to billions of gallons of SAF, no single feedstock will get us there alone. Diversification and cost management are key.鈥�
Innovation Through Collaboration
Dr. Philippidis also underscored the role of collaboration between academia, government, and industry in accelerating SAF adoption. He suggested that co-locating SAF production facilities near existing refineries could help reduce capital expenditures, while leveraging current infrastructure.
鈥淭o reduce costs, we can鈥檛 rely on building expensive new plants from scratch,鈥� he said. 鈥淚ntegrating SAF production into existing operations can reduce the cost of SAF and make large-scale adoption faster.鈥�
The discussion also touched on the need for resilient logistics networks to protect fuel supply chains from disruptions caused by extreme weather 鈥� an increasingly relevant issue in the context of climate change.
SustainaBULLs in Action
Patel College of Global Sustainability Faculty, Staff, Students and alum take on Going Green Conference
The Patel College鈥檚 presence extended beyond the panel discussion. PCGS students and alumni actively participated throughout the conference, engaging with industry leaders, learning about the latest innovations, and contributing to the dialogue on sustainable aviation and climate resilience.
Among them was , Sustainability & Resilience Officer for the City of Tampa and proud PCGS alumna, who was invited to speak on the opening panel that kicked off the conference on Monday morning. Caselli shared how cities like Tampa are integrating sustainability and resilience strategies into infrastructure planning and community engagement, setting an example for urban leadership across the nation.
鈥淚t was inspiring to see at such a high-profile event both our students and our alumni, who now work in the public and private sector,鈥� said Dr. Philippidis. 鈥淭heir participation shows how the Patel College at USF is preparing professionals who are not only knowledgeable but are actively shaping the future of sustainability.鈥�
A Sustainability Leader in Aviation and Beyond
The Patel College鈥檚 participation in the Airports Going Green Conference reinforces USF鈥檚 leadership in advancing sustainability solutions for critical industries. Through research, partnerships, and education, PCGS continues to prepare future leaders to tackle global challenges in energy, water, food, and transportation.
鈥淎t the Patel College, we鈥檙e committed to driving the innovations that make sustainability practical and scalable,鈥� Dr. Philippidis concluded. 鈥淪ustainable aviation fuel is not just a technical challenge; it鈥檚 a global environmental, economic, and societal sustainability challenge. And we鈥檙e proud to represent USF in teaming up with industry and government to be part of the solution.鈥�
Sustainable aviation fuel is not just a technical challenge; it鈥檚 a global environmental, economic, and societal sustainability challenge. And we鈥檙e proud to represent USF in teaming up with industry and government to be part of the solution.
Dr. George Philippidis
Acting Dean, Patel College of Global Sustainability