What is sustainable aviation fuel, is it worth considering?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a promising solution to the environmental challenges posed by the aviation industry. It is a type of biofuel, made from renewable sources such as plant or animal materials, rather than fossil fuels. SAF can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuels.

The adoption of SAF could play a crucial role in the country’s green journey. India is working on developing SAF using cooking oil, oil-rich seeds, agri residues, municipal solid wastes, and algae. 

The Indian Oil Corporation has signed an MoU with LanzaJet, a sustainable aviation fuel producer, to build a commercial-scale SAF plant in India. This plant will produce SAF from non-edible renewable resources such as agricultural waste and forestry residues.

Moreover, the Indian government has set a target of achieving 50% of its energy requirements from renewable resources by 2030. The use of SAF aligns with this goal, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. 

The Indian government plans to mandate the use of 1% of SAF for domestic airlines by 2025, further highlighting the country’s commitment to a greener future. Now let's understand what exactly is SAF?

What is sustainable aviation fuel?

SAF stands for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Designed to lessen the aviation industry's carbon footprint, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) provides an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional aviation fuels. Producers derive it from renewable resources and it bears the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to the conventional aviation fuels derived from fossil sources.

Sustainable feedstocks produce it, and its chemistry closely resembles that of traditional fossil jet fuel. The use of SAF leads to a decrease in carbon emissions compared to the traditional jet fuel it replaces over the fuel's lifecycle.

The commonplace feedstocks include cooking oil and other non-palm waste oils from animals or plants, as well as solid waste from homes and businesses. This waste includes packaging, paper, textiles, and food scraps that would have otherwise ended up in landfill or incineration.

Why is SAF important?

Jet fuel carries a lot of energy for its weight, and it's this energy density that truly powers commercial flight. Currently, there are no other viable options for transporting groups of people quickly across vast distances, making us rely on this type of fuel in aviation.

An economy ticket on a return flight between London and San Francisco accrues nearly 1 tonne of CO2e in carbon footprint. The aviation industry is forecasted to double to over 8 billion passengers by 2050, making it a necessity to take action in reducing the industry's carbon emissions. Air BP is utilizing SAF as one way to achieve this.

Depending on the sustainable feedstock used, production method, and the supply chain to the airport, SAF reduces carbon emissions over the lifecycle of the fuel it replaces by an impressive 80%, compared to traditional jet fuel. The big question is, how sustainable is it?

SAF: How Sustainable is it really?

Experienced pilot, Captain Ben K, in his conversation with Marshall Skills Academy, pointed out that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is not entirely carbon-neutral. He explained that emissions occur during its refinement and transportation to airports. Additionally, the cultivation of plants for SAF production requires resources such as water, farmland, and labor, which is why the term ‘lifecycle emissions’ frequently appears in SAF-related discussions.

Captain Ben K said "When we evaluate the sustainability of biofuels, we must consider more than just the carbon cycle. This involves comparing the waste that the fuel burning produces to the oxygen the feedstock plants generate from carbon dioxide".

On the positive side, SAF is created from things like plant oils, agricultural leftovers, and waste, which are renewable resources. This means we're not relying on limited fossil fuels. The goal is to cut down on the pollution caused by air travel and reduce the impact on our climate.

Many airlines and the aviation industry are getting on board with SAF, aiming to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. People see this as a step in the right direction for a cleaner and greener way to fly. Additionally, you can use SAF in existing planes and airports without making major changes, which makes it a practical choice.

Challenges in producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) include its costly large-scale production, potential to increase flight costs, and the potential environmental and resource impact.

Why is SAF worth considering?

The aviation industry has set ambitious goals to reduce its environmental impact, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. SAF is widely recognized as a key technology to achieve this target. Its ability to slash emissions without compromising performance makes it an attractive solution for airlines and policymakers alike.

Currently, the production of SAF is limited, and it costs considerably more than conventional jet fuel. These challenges hinder the widespread adoption of SAF. However, significant investments in research and development are underway to increase SAF production and reduce its cost. Also, government policies and incentives are coming up to promote SAF use, indicating a growing commitment towards a greener aviation future.

Despite these challenges, the future of SAF looks promising. Expectations are rising that the cost of SAF will decrease with increased production and policy support. Recently, the UK government has expressed its desire to enhance the production and utilization of SAF. They plan to introduce a regulation which mandates that sustainable materials produce at least 10% of aircraft fuel by 2030. The US Federal Aviation Administration has announced a plan to reach 3 billion gallons of SAF production by 2030.

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