Despite public opinion aviation presently accounts for a relatively small portion of global emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, the aviation is responsible for only about 2.5% to 3% of the global emissions. However, the issue is that this percentage will increase as it easier to reduce emissions in other sectors such as rail and road transport. So, while these sectors decarbonise more rapidly through electrification, aviation contribution as a parentage of total global emission will rapidly increase.
Governing international aviation bodies, airlines, airports and governments have formulated various incentives, targets and measures to try to curb the industry’s emissions. Included with this, are incentives for airlines to try and develop next-generation aircraft that will use different forms of fuel sources to propel them. The two main form of the next gen aircraft presently being developed are electric and hydrogen. However, each one of these present challenges. With electric propulsion, the range that an electric aircraft can fly is limited due to the weight and size of the batteries needed to travel over longer distances. And over shorter distances in some countries and regions such as in Europe, where these is advanced electric rail transportation systems, this mode of transport will probably be used as it has better efficacy than flying by electric aircraft.
With hydrogen aircraft, a whole new infrastructure will need to be constructed at airports as well a conveyance system to get the hydrogen to the airport and then convert it into a liquid form to be used by the aircraft. This airport infrastructure transformation is on top of the whole new redesign of the aircraft required based on the differing characteristics of a new type of fuel. Despite of all these challenges, the aviation industry, including some airlines such as Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, has already started conducting studies and developing concepts on how and when all of this can be achieved. However, this transformation is some time away and in the meantime the industry still needs to abate its emissions.
In the short term, amongst other measures such as the modernisation of airspace travel routes, the aviation industry is working to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuels, commonly called SAFs to aid in the reduction of aviation global emissions. Over the past several years, many stakeholders have been working to increase SAF production to help in reducing its high cost compared to traditionally produced aviation fuel. It has been proven that SAFs whole life cycle greenhouse gas emissions are up to 80% lower than traditional aviation fuels. And additionally, there is no need to change any infrastructure and aircraft as the fuels can be used directly in all existing aircraft and fuel systems.
There are many technology pathways to produce SAFs which for many include using renewable and/or low carbon technology in the production process. Additionally, some of technologies that have been developed use waste streams as feedstock thus incorporating a circular economy element into SAF production as well. For example, some companies have developed technologies that convert food waste, non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW) and plastics into SAF, and other technologies have been created that convert agricultural waste and even traditional human sewerage to SAF. Imagine this, using all these waste streams to develop such a valuable commodity while lowering emissions and reducing pollution, a winning synergy that works for everyone, airlines and society, and the planet at large.
Many innovative ideas have been proven, and various companies are working to scale up these production processes which hopefully will lower prices. Additionally, quite a few airlines are partnering or backing these start-up technology companies in developing and expanding various type of technology pathways. Just a few examples include the following:
- British Airways working with Nova Pangaea Technologies to convert agricultural and wood waste to SAF;
- Wizz Airlines working with Firefly to convert sewerage to SAF;
- Virgin Airlines working with LanzaTech to capture waste gas to produce ethanol which is then converted SAF.
Also, some airlines have developed incentive programmes that allow passengers to purchase the carbon credits generated from using SAFs to help offset the higher procurement SAF cost. If you can afford it, please participate in some of these programmes that will help the airline and by extension you directly lower the emissions of air travel. So before major transformation occurs to change the energy propulsion technology and the required infrastructure to support this change, the aviation industry is counting on the use of SAFs to drastically reduce aviation emissions – FlySAF to lower emissions.