Why Sustainable Aviation Fuel becomes the Key to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Why Sustainable Aviation Fuel becomes the Key to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Blog Article
The world is looking at higher pressure as far as climate change is concerned, and immense pressure mounts upon the aviation sector in reducing carbon footprint. It is because the aviation sector accounts for around 2 to 3 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and at a time when air travel is expected to go on the rise, the quest for sustainable solutions is at its highest ever. One of the greatest emerging innovations, however, would be Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF. Much has been said lately on the virtues of moving toward more sustainable aviation, and most experts point to SAF as the key ingredient needed to reduce the impact of the aviation sector on the environment, providing a way towards having greener skies, without having to sacrifice the efficiencies and conveniences that new air travel has brought.
Part of this blog will be a peek at what Sustainable Aviation Fuel is and how it works, but more importantly, we will outline why it is crucial to the future of sustainable air travel.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is a biofuel derived from renewable resources such as waste materials, agricultural residues, or non-food crops. Unlike jet fuel, which is conventionally fossil-based, sustainable processes are used in the production of SAF, minimizing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.
Feedstocks used in the production of SAF include:
- Used cooking oil
- Plant oils (such as camelina or jatropha)
- Agricultural waste and residues
- Municipal solid wastes, such as household trash
- Algae or other sustainable biomass sources
SAF is fully compatible with existing aircraft and airports, which allows airlines to use it without the necessity of modifying planes or fuel supply systems extensively. Its drop-in feature is a potent argument in favor of immediate action to reduce aviation emissions.
How Does SAF Work?
SAF is also similar in its chemical composition to other conventional jet fuels, so it can be blended with the regular fuel and used in existing aircraft engines. The International Air Transport Association recently approved blends of up to 50% SAF mixed with traditional jet fuel to ensure safe and reliable operation throughout all commercial flights.
One of the striking differences between SAF and fossil-based fuel emanates from their lifecycle emissions: though traditional jet fuel is derived from crude oil-releasing carbon dioxide, already locked in for millions of years production of SAF involves renewable sources that assimilate CO2 during growth or collection, thereby effectively closing the circle of net carbon emissions relative to fossil-based fuels.
It can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% when compared with traditional jet fuel, depending on the feedstock and production processes applied. This reality places it in a highly critical role for airlines searching for strategies to meet their carbon reduction goals and participate in wider global climate initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement.
Why SAF stands at the Forefront of Reducing Carbon Airline Emissions?
1. Offer immediate emissions reduction
One of the largest barriers facing the airline industry is how to remove emissions from operations without grounding flights or drastically reducing air travel. Others, such as electric aircraft, likely are more futuristic and cannot be part of a carbon reduction portfolio today; however, Sustainable Aviation Fuel offers immediate potential for carbon reduction because it can be blended with traditional jet fuel and flown today-a reduction in emissions per flight, without reliance on future developments related to electric propulsion or hydrogen fuel.
This advantage of SAF is that it can be used in already existing aircraft and infrastructure. Thus the solution becomes scalable for airlines seeking to cut emissions in the near term. More production and falling costs will make its adoption more widespread and afford the aviation industry a greatly reduced carbon footprint.
2. Meeting Regulatory and Industry Commitments
Air transport players, governments, international organizations, and airlines are now setting increasingly ambitious carbon-reduction objectives. Of course, ICAO's CORSIA is one of the real flagship policies to reduce emissions, which sets the objectives for carbon-neutral growth from 2021 and halves the levels of the emission from 2005, with the level coming as close as possible to or even below 2005 levels by 2050.
One of the critical tools available to airlines for their efforts to meet the outlined targets is Sustainable Aviation Fuel. This is because, firstly, SAF offers a near-term solution in the area of lifecycle emissions and enables the airlines to continue the compliance with changing regulations while being able to showcase their sustainability commitment at the same time.
3. Address the carbon footprint of long-haul flights
Although electric aircraft and hydrogen-powered planes are considered future technologies, these are expected to be commercially viable in the near term primarily for short-haul flights. A somewhat bigger hurdle in their decarbonization lies with long-haul flights, which account for the majority of emissions from aviation.
Long-haul routes would be, at present the only realistic means of reducing emissions from flying. Essentially, without any upgrades required to accommodate larger aircraft at longer ranges, SAF is critical in addressing the carbon footprint of intercontinental flights that are projected to maintain an upward trajectory.
4. Energy Security and Fuel Diversification
The global aviation industry is more reliant on fossil fuels, and the industry is therefore very susceptible to issues in terms of price instability and supply disruptions. With Sustainable Aviation Fuel, airlines would be able to diversify the sources of fuel for their operations, thereby increasing energy security and reducing their dependence on more traditional petroleum-based jet fuel.
SAF can be sourced locally from feedstocks, thereby reducing fuel importation into any region. The switch towards renewable fuels that are sourced locally can promote the development of new economies in areas like agriculture and waste management, and this supports the sustainable growth of the economy.
Challenges Experienced in the Use of SAF
Even though Sustainable Aviation Fuel is very promising, there are still challenges experienced in promoting its universal use.
1. Production Cost
One of the significant challenges to the widespread adoption of SAF is its cost. To date, SAF is much more expensive to produce than traditional jet fuel because of the small volume currently produced and the complexity of some of the conversion processes involved. This is expected to shift as technology advances, production volumes increase, and economies of scale are achieved.
Governments and the relevant industrial stakeholders are engaging to offer subsidies and tax credits, among other incentives, to encourage the production of SAFs while reducing costs. Such financial mechanisms will mark a significant way towards making SAF competitive with traditional fuels in the near future.
2. Availability
Currently, SAF is only produced at scale from a few refiners. Diversifying sources and increasing the number of refining facilities in SAF production will be essential as airlines promise to develop the market sustainably toward achieving their emissions reduction.
Now, infrastructural investments, and further research and development, become critical catalysts to accelerate scaling up the production levels of SAF so that it becomes the mainstream feedstock for aviation.
3. Feedstock Sustainability
Not all feedstocks are as sustainable for the production of SAF; some score more highly on sustainability. Highly ranked in terms of sustainability are waste-based feedstocks, such as used cooking oil and agricultural residues, while biofuels manufactured from crops used for food can compete with food production, result in habitat loss or forest clearance, and harm biodiversity.
Proper feedstock sourcing and use must, therefore become the priorities of the industry so that SAF does indeed deliver on its promise of reducing emissions without creating new environmental problems.
Conclusion: Aviation's Future is Sustainable
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a key solution to carbon emissions reduction in the aviation sector. It provides airlines with an immediate means of carbon footprint reduction, improved energy security, and globalization of climate goals. Despite these challenges, continued development and scaling of SAF technology will provide a critical part of decarbonizing air travel.
As the world evolves to more sustainable practices, then, it will be more than necessary to adopt Sustainable Aviation Fuel as it will ensure that the skies remain open for generations to come while being healthy for our planet.