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A FLIGHT TO SUSTAINABILITY!

December 17, 2022 | Expert Insights

With about seven per cent of the total emissions from the transportation sector, the aviation industry ranks third in the U.S. in its market value. It's also one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise since aeroplanes have a lengthy lifespan and how few effective measures there are to cut emissions. Given the anticipated rise in passenger and freight air travel, emissions from the industry are expected to keep rising.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which are an easy drop-in replacement for regular jet fuel, are the route that shows the most promise. Scaling up, however, is hampered by severe economic and technological challenges because SAF technologies are still in their infancy.

Background

Over a year ago, the Biden administration established the lofty goal of bringing the economy's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to nil by 2050. To help achieve these objectives, the government created a long-term climate policy that calls for switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity and renewable fuels to drive the U.S. economy.

The most effective and cost-effective method to minimise emissions in industries like power, transportation, and buildings is often considered to be the combination of clean electricity and extensive electrification of end users. This method isn't always available or practical for difficult-to-abate industries like industry and heavy-duty transportation.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are expected to fill this gap as they have similar physical and chemical properties to conventional jet fuel but have a lower lifecycle carbon footprint. They are low-carbon fuels made from biological and non-biological feedstocks.

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Analysis

SAF may easily serve as a "drop-in" fuel replacement for conventional jet fuel, which is one of the reasons it is seen as a leading practical approach for decarbonising aviation. Because SAF and conventional jet fuel have extremely similar chemical properties, combining them safely without modifying aircraft or aircraft engines is possible. Additionally, SAF transportation may make use of the current fuelling infrastructure.

In comparison to conventional jet fuel, SAF has the potential to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 99 per cent, depending on the technological approach and feedstocks used to make the fuel. Improvements in local air quality brought on by lower sulphur content and decreases in soot pollution are two additional significant advantages. Communities that produce and refine SAF feedstocks stand to gain substantial employment and financial benefits as production increases.

As the globe moves toward obtaining energy support from greener sources, the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing declared that India is a priority location for its ambitious mission to decarbonise aerospace globally from both commercial and military aircraft. This is a component of the business's attempts to chart a course for a sustainable future.

Boeing's Vice President for Global Sustainability Policy and Partnerships, Brian, said, "India is hugely important to Boeing and our aviation business, but also to our sustainability journey. I think some of the commitments and potential we see here in India to become self-reliant through scaling sustainable aviation fuel is really promising".

Last year, Boeing made a landmark revelation that by 2030, Boeing's commercial aircraft will be able to operate entirely on SAF. Moreover, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, has promised to support the net-zero aviation target by 2050.

Counter View

Despite these assurances, many doubts are being raised about whether the aviation industry, which presently accounts for 2.5 per cent of global emissions, can truly go green or if meaningful progress is still decades away.

The cost of SAF is an issue because it is scarce and costs more than twice as much as conventional jet fuel. According to data from 2019, SAF made up just 0.1 per cent of the world's jet fuel use, well short of the 2 per cent objective set by 2025.

The question arises whether governments should subsidise these efforts, which will invariably lead to passengers paying more for their airfares in a market plagued with rising prices due to high energy costs and inflationary trends fuelled by the pandemic. If the climate is that important for our future survival, higher ticket costs should be the least of our worries!

Most aviation emissions currently come from industrialised countries, while developing nations are predicted to experience future growth. Will they have the financial resources to reduce emissions like the U.S. and Europe?

Assessment

  • Depending on the sustainable feedstock utilised, the production process, and the supply chain to the airport, SAF offers a remarkable decrease in carbon emissions of up to 80 per cent over the fuel's lifecycle compared to the conventional jet fuel it replaces. This alone should tilt the balance in favour of replacing conventional fossil fuels.
  • To lower SAF prices, a significant amount of work is required, including more research and development and technological advancements regarding feedstock. Additionally, SAF needs to be accessible to developing nations to influence outside of the biggest aviation hubs.