Sustainable Aviation Fuel Can Help Airlines Hit Their Target Of Net Zero Emissions
The transportation sector is the most significant contributor to US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 27% of the total. However, amid changing popular opinion and government regulations, the airline industry is trying to clean up its act. Some airlines claim sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the key to carbon-neutral flight. But is it? This article explores how providers make SAF, whether it works, and what airlines actually mean when they claim to be "carbon neutral."
SAF Is One Of Many Different Biofuels
SAF is a biofuel. Providers create these fuels from plant or animal matter (biomass), often left over from the agriculture industry. Other biomass sources include algae, forest residue, municipal waste, and dedicated biofuel crops. A 2016 report by US DOE claimed that we could sustainably support 1 billion tons of biomass each year – enough to produce 50-60 billion gallons of eco-friendly fuels.
Many Producers Convert Oils To Hydrocarbons
There are several different technologies to produce SAF. Neste Corp., a Finnish oil company, uses vegetable oil and animal fat waste products and residues as its primary input. First, it treats them to remove impurities, then refines them into fuel by removing oxygen and adding hydrogen.
This process produces a hydrocarbon-based fuel source with a high enough energy density to blend with traditional aviation fuel without sacrificing performance. Current regulations limit SAF to a 50/50 blend of biofuel with conventional aviation fuel. Although burning SAF still produces GHGs, it drastically reduces the amount, and airlines typically pair SAF adoption with other activities to reduce their carbon emissions.
SAF Has Environmental And Economic Benefits
The primary benefit of SAF is reducing GHG emissions; however, several bonuses for the environment and economy come with it. For example, farmers can grow crops specifically for SAF production, adding a revenue stream and allowing them to plant cover crops when their main crop is out of season. This helps them maintain soil health.
In addition, biomass crops can help keep carbon sequestered in the soil and help increase biodiversity. On the other hand, using manure or sewage as an input keeps methane from reaching the atmosphere.
Finally, SAF production helps grow the economy and create jobs. The entire production chain of SAF stimulates demand for farm workers, construction workers, manufacturing jobs, and a multitude of positions in the aviation industry.
Complex Production Chains And High Energy Consumption Slow The Adoption Pf SAF
The obstacles to SAF come down to its complex production chain. Producers source inputs from diverse industries, leading to complex logistical issues threatening to offset GHG reduction by using traditional transportation. Moreover, SAF production requires a tremendous amount of energy. If production facilities do not use sustainable energy to refine their SAF, there's little point.
Finally, supply and demand play an enormous part in the equation. The supply of traditional aviation fuel is astronomically huge, whereas SAF has a limited production capacity. These factors conspire to set a price on SAF roughly double traditional fuel.
"Carbon Neutral Flight" Is Often A Problematic Claim
Of course, even using SAF produces GHGs, so what else do airlines do to achieve "carbon-neutral flight"? At the moment, not much. There are many great ideas about how to reduce aviation emissions – but that's all they are, ideas. For instance, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology exists in some industries, but there is no effective system to integrate it with aircraft. In addition, airline engineers are constantly innovating new designs for more efficient flights, but that can only go so far.
As a result, many airlines resort to "carbon offsets" to make up for the difference in Earth's carbon budget. Unfortunately, offsets are a risky proposition. They allow companies to continue emitting carbon, provided they invest in programs that should reduce future emissions, making the long-term total net zero. Not all programs pan out.
JetBlue Offers A Relevant Case Study
At the start of 2020, JetBlue announced it would offset carbon emissions for all domestic flights. They planned to fund projects for conservation, emissions capture, and renewable energy without raising ticket prices. Of course, their intention was laudable, but for every successful program, there were some that may have done more harm than good.
JetBlue found itself in a difficult position since a 2019 report ranked them dead last in fuel efficiency among domestic airlines. Fortunately, the airline seems to be making progress. It freely advertises its aggressive sustainability goals, which include SAF and well-informed carbon offset programs.
Their push for sustainability has gained them media recognition, and CNN has placed them on a list of top sustainable airlines in 2022. What JetBlue shares with other trendsetters in the field is that it views SAF as one facet of a diverse approach to reducing emissions. It blends technology, investment, customer incentives, and social awareness to help address climate change successfully.
SAF Is Only One Piece Of The Sustainability Puzzle For Airlines
SAF is an essential innovation in the drive to reduce emissions in the transportation industry. It leverages tech to convert waste products into fuel while helping farmers maintain their land and stimulating economic growth.
But SAF is not a complete answer to the problem of airline emissions. It is expensive and requires tremendous energy to produce. Nevertheless, JetBlue and others have shown that SAF is an effective part of a comprehensive strategy, reducing total emissions and moving the airline industry closer to net zero.
Key Takeaways
- Travel Light – Consider limiting yourself to one bag. Some airlines are restricting the amount of luggage you can take or charging extra to take any at all. Regardless of the airline's policy, do your best to help the fuel efficiency conundrum.
- Explore Airline SAF Certificates – Some airlines offer SAF certificates to business-class passengers. Purchasing them gives businesses proof of carbon reduction on their emissions statements, while the airline uses the proceeds to offset the high cost of premium SAF.
- Stay Rooted – The aviation industry still has a long way to go. If you need to travel but are not in a rush, consider going by train. While there is something to be said for incentivizing airlines that do the right thing, there is also something to be said for choosing a mode of transport that is much more environmentally friendly, to begin with.
The transportation sector is the most significant contributor to US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 27% of the total. However, amid changing popular opinion and government regulations, the airline industry is trying to clean up its act. Some airlines claim sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the key to carbon-neutral flight. But is it? This article explores how providers make SAF, whether it works, and what airlines actually mean when they claim to be "carbon neutral."
SAF Is One Of Many Different Biofuels
SAF is a biofuel. Providers create these fuels from plant or animal matter (biomass), often left over from the agriculture industry. Other biomass sources include algae, forest residue, municipal waste, and dedicated biofuel crops. A 2016 report by US DOE claimed that we could sustainably support 1 billion tons of biomass each year – enough to produce 50-60 billion gallons of eco-friendly fuels.
Many Producers Convert Oils To Hydrocarbons
There are several different technologies to produce SAF. Neste Corp., a Finnish oil company, uses vegetable oil and animal fat waste products and residues as its primary input. First, it treats them to remove impurities, then refines them into fuel by removing oxygen and adding hydrogen.
This process produces a hydrocarbon-based fuel source with a high enough energy density to blend with traditional aviation fuel without sacrificing performance. Current regulations limit SAF to a 50/50 blend of biofuel with conventional aviation fuel. Although burning SAF still produces GHGs, it drastically reduces the amount, and airlines typically pair SAF adoption with other activities to reduce their carbon emissions.
SAF Has Environmental And Economic Benefits
The primary benefit of SAF is reducing GHG emissions; however, several bonuses for the environment and economy come with it. For example, farmers can grow crops specifically for SAF production, adding a revenue stream and allowing them to plant cover crops when their main crop is out of season. This helps them maintain soil health.
In addition, biomass crops can help keep carbon sequestered in the soil and help increase biodiversity. On the other hand, using manure or sewage as an input keeps methane from reaching the atmosphere.
Finally, SAF production helps grow the economy and create jobs. The entire production chain of SAF stimulates demand for farm workers, construction workers, manufacturing jobs, and a multitude of positions in the aviation industry.
Complex Production Chains And High Energy Consumption Slow The Adoption Pf SAF
The obstacles to SAF come down to its complex production chain. Producers source inputs from diverse industries, leading to complex logistical issues threatening to offset GHG reduction by using traditional transportation. Moreover, SAF production requires a tremendous amount of energy. If production facilities do not use sustainable energy to refine their SAF, there's little point.
Finally, supply and demand play an enormous part in the equation. The supply of traditional aviation fuel is astronomically huge, whereas SAF has a limited production capacity. These factors conspire to set a price on SAF roughly double traditional fuel.
"Carbon Neutral Flight" Is Often A Problematic Claim
Of course, even using SAF produces GHGs, so what else do airlines do to achieve "carbon-neutral flight"? At the moment, not much. There are many great ideas about how to reduce aviation emissions – but that's all they are, ideas. For instance, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology exists in some industries, but there is no effective system to integrate it with aircraft. In addition, airline engineers are constantly innovating new designs for more efficient flights, but that can only go so far.
As a result, many airlines resort to "carbon offsets" to make up for the difference in Earth's carbon budget. Unfortunately, offsets are a risky proposition. They allow companies to continue emitting carbon, provided they invest in programs that should reduce future emissions, making the long-term total net zero. Not all programs pan out.
JetBlue Offers A Relevant Case Study
At the start of 2020, JetBlue announced it would offset carbon emissions for all domestic flights. They planned to fund projects for conservation, emissions capture, and renewable energy without raising ticket prices. Of course, their intention was laudable, but for every successful program, there were some that may have done more harm than good.
JetBlue found itself in a difficult position since a 2019 report ranked them dead last in fuel efficiency among domestic airlines. Fortunately, the airline seems to be making progress. It freely advertises its aggressive sustainability goals, which include SAF and well-informed carbon offset programs.
Their push for sustainability has gained them media recognition, and CNN has placed them on a list of top sustainable airlines in 2022. What JetBlue shares with other trendsetters in the field is that it views SAF as one facet of a diverse approach to reducing emissions. It blends technology, investment, customer incentives, and social awareness to help address climate change successfully.
SAF Is Only One Piece Of The Sustainability Puzzle For Airlines
SAF is an essential innovation in the drive to reduce emissions in the transportation industry. It leverages tech to convert waste products into fuel while helping farmers maintain their land and stimulating economic growth.
But SAF is not a complete answer to the problem of airline emissions. It is expensive and requires tremendous energy to produce. Nevertheless, JetBlue and others have shown that SAF is an effective part of a comprehensive strategy, reducing total emissions and moving the airline industry closer to net zero.
Key Takeaways
- Travel Light – Consider limiting yourself to one bag. Some airlines are restricting the amount of luggage you can take or charging extra to take any at all. Regardless of the airline's policy, do your best to help the fuel efficiency conundrum.
- Explore Airline SAF Certificates – Some airlines offer SAF certificates to business-class passengers. Purchasing them gives businesses proof of carbon reduction on their emissions statements, while the airline uses the proceeds to offset the high cost of premium SAF.
- Stay Rooted – The aviation industry still has a long way to go. If you need to travel but are not in a rush, consider going by train. While there is something to be said for incentivizing airlines that do the right thing, there is also something to be said for choosing a mode of transport that is much more environmentally friendly, to begin with.
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