Irina Patrahau to speak on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for military use at Brussels conference

On 1 October, HCSS Strategic Analyst Irina Patrahau will participate in a panel discussion on the role of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in military use at the “Sustainable Aviation for a Safer Europe” conference in Brussels.

The policy conference, co-organised by Topsoe and Moeve, will bring together industry leaders and EU institutions to discuss sustainable aviation fuels, European security and the role of industry in strengthening Europe’s resilience and defence readiness. The event will take place at TownHall Europe in Brussels.

Patrahau will join Panel II: “SAF in military use – challenges & solutions”, taking place from 10:15 to 11:00 AM. Moderated by Antti Tulonen, Partner at Aula Europe, the panel will explore the challenges and opportunities surrounding the use of SAF for military purposes, including what is needed to ensure that SAF can play a strong role in future defence applications.

The discussion will also feature Julian Wieczorkiewicz, Officer for Operational Energy in NATO’s Defence Policy and Planning Division; Riho Terras, Member of the European Parliament; and Nicolas Jeuland, Fuel and Environment Expert and Reserve Officer for the French Ministry of Defence Energy Agency at Safran.

HCSS work on SAF and fuel security

Irina Patrahau is Chair of the Energy Security and Critical Minerals initiatives at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) Her work focuses on energy security, critical raw materials and the geopolitical dimensions of the energy transition.

Patrahau’s recent research has examined Sustainable Aviation Fuel and fuel security for defence, highlighting the importance of resilient and diversified fuel supply chains for military readiness and European security.

As European countries seek to strengthen defence preparedness while reducing strategic vulnerabilities in energy supply, the development and availability of SAF raise important questions around production capacity, supply chains, technological capabilities and the integration of sustainable fuels into military energy systems. The Brussels conference will provide an opportunity to discuss these challenges and the role European industry and institutions can play in addressing them.