For decades, climate change has been a threat to humanity and the planet. The global market has seen an influx of innovative solutions to combat this problem and discover an eco-friendlier way of living. More companies from different sectors are continuously trying to go green in providing services, including those dealing with fuel and air transport.
Fuel for decarbonization
While land vehicles usually opt for an EV solution, that might not be the best for aviation. That’s because the weight of the battery would make it difficult for a plane to fly. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a liquid fuel for aircraft, having similar properties to jet fuel but with a lesser carbon footprint. It aims to reduce carbon emissions used in fuels for transportation, freight, and aviation. SAF is produced from feedstocks collected from multiple sources such as cooking oil and fats, agricultural waste, and crops. According to Simple Flying, “the overall cost of jet fuel [in 2020] was USD 0.5 per liter. Meanwhile, the cost of SAF was USD 1.1 per liter. So, SAF was more than double the price of conventional jet fuel.”
Meanwhile, carbon emission from the production and use of electrofuels — a form of synthetic liquid fuel produced from hydro, wind, or solar for the transportation sector – will remain neutral. As opposed to conventional jet fuel, e-fuel does not emit additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and thus, considered sustainable in the long run for being environmental-friendly, among other reasons. E-fuel can be obtained by using renewable energy.
Aiming for less toxic emission
A decrease in aircraft emissions aims to combat the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission problem that we are still facing. According to Statista, GHG emissions soar to more than 50 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) annually. This can stay in the Earth’s atmosphere for years, resulting in more drastic effects of global warming. As the balance in nature continues to tip over an unfavorable side, every living organism’s life will continue to be in peril.
With Europe’s climate law, Fit for 55, which aims to reduce EU emissions by at least 55% by 2023, steps are being taken to achieve the goal. Companies have started their own ways of achieving a more sustainable and ecological way in the aviation industry. Research and development about SAF and electrofuels as alternatives to traditional aviation fuel are commencing in different parts of the globe.
Finding alternatives
DHL Group’s GoGreen Plus service allows consumers the option to choose the use of SAF for every shipment they sent. The company has partnered with IAG Cargo to make this possible. David Shepherd, Chief Executive Officer at IAG Cargo, shares that “IAG was the first European airline group to make the commitment that 10% of flights will be fueled by SAF by 2030 – and this partnership is another step towards that goal.” Nippon Express Europe also partnered with Lufthansa Cargo recently to support a greener way in the aviation industry.
It’s not just the aviation industry. A Chilean operating company called Highly Innovative Fuels started the production of synthetic fuels alongside companies like Porsche. Its pilot plant in Chile opened just last year with the location offering ideal conditions for the production of eFuel.
The production of fuel alternatives is still in its infancy stage. The production for both SAF and e-fuel is higher than that of traditional jet fuel, and as a result, is limited for now due to high costs. Building production facilities and acquiring equipment leads to more expenditure. Therefore, while SAF and e-fuel seem to be two of the best options to combat harmful fuel emissions, it is clear that it will take a long time to be fully adapted. Porsche has already invested over USD 100 million in the development and production of e-fuels.
Photo credit: The feature image has been provided by Nippon Express Europe. The images used in the body are owned by Porsche and DHL Global. All photos have been provided for press usage.
Sources: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy / Sumit Singh and Gaurav Joshi (Simple Flying) / ScienceDirect / The Environmental Protection Agency / Statista / Council of the European Union / DHL / PR Newswire / DHL / Porsche Newsroom
