MrAhmed AlJameel

Climate Policy
Energy Transition
Net-Zero Strategies
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Lower-Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF)
Circular Carbon Economy (CCE)
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
Energy Systems
Optimisation Modelling

PhD Project Title:
Designing Market-Based Mechanisms for Enhancing the Economic Viability of Alternative Drop-in Fuels for Aviation Decarbonisation


PhD Project Summary:

This research aims to develop a data-driven computational framework to evaluate how market-based mechanisms (MBMs) and complementary policy instruments can support the cost competitiveness, deployment and investment conditions of alternative drop-in aviation fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and lower-carbon aviation fuel (LCAF). It draws comparative lessons from international and national aviation climate policies, including CORSIA, the EU ETS and the UK ETS, by examining how carbon-price signals, fuel mandates, allowance-based support, funding mechanisms and revenue-certainty instruments interact to reduce the cost gap between conventional and alternative aviation fuels.

The research extends this comparative analysis through an integrated assessment of the UK SAF policy framework, examining how the UK SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism (RCM), UK ETS and SAF mandate can be combined to provide purchaser-side cost support and producer-side revenue certainty. Optimisation modelling is used to assess alternative policy configurations, funding requirements, risk allocation, support coverage and their implications for fuel deployment, investment and distribution of costs.

Building on these international findings, the research also develops and evaluates policy packages tailored to Saudi Arabia’s aviation and energy context. Alternative combinations of fuel targets, carbon incentives, emissions trading, purchaser support and producer revenue-certainty mechanisms are quantitatively assessed for their implications for fuel deployment, lifecycle emissions, funding requirements and cost distribution. These results are complemented by stakeholder appraisal to assess policy feasibility, acceptability, financing, risk allocation and implementation barriers. The combined quantitative and qualitative evidence is then used to formulate a phased strategy for supporting the uptake of alternative drop-in aviation fuels in Saudi Arabia, including recommendations on policy instruments, eligible fuels, funding arrangements, institutional responsibilities and implementation sequencing. Overall, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of how coordinated market-based and investment-support policies can be designed to accelerate aviation decarbonisation while balancing affordability, investment certainty and practical implementation.