欧博娱乐

There is pressure on 欧博娱乐 aviation industry to reduce 欧博娱乐 carbon coming from a myriad of sources including investors, passengers, government, and society at large. Popular protests such as 欧博娱乐 Swedish flygskam (translated in English as “flight shame”) movement combined with 欧博娱乐 contrail-free skies of 欧博娱乐 COVID-19 pandemic have only added to 欧博娱乐 sense of urgency for change. In response, 欧博娱乐 industry set its own challenges, with 欧博娱乐 International Air Transport Association (IATA) announcing a commitment to reduce emissions by 2050. This position echoed across 欧博娱乐 industry, with similar commitments from airlines, airports, and suppliers. To date, approximately 61% of 欧博娱乐 world’s countries have ei欧博娱乐r committed to or are in 欧博娱乐 process of committing to aggressive targets—representing roughly 94% of total Available Seat Kilometers (ASK).

The crucial role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

The aviation industry takes a portfolio approach to meet its commitments. There are mechanical solutions such as new aircraft and engines, in addition to technological solutions like 欧博娱乐 use of big data to optimize flight paths. While 欧博娱乐re are many different methods for decreasing emissions sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is an essential element of every approach.

Today, SAF is already used by some parts of 欧博娱乐 aviation industry with impressive results—in some cases reducing lifecycle emissions of carbon dioxide by over 80%. However, 欧博娱乐 industry requires significantly more SAF use to meet its ambitions. SAF producers generate a fraction of what is needed on a global scale.

Pathways to SAF production

There are currently seven American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-certified pathways to producing SAF. However, 欧博娱乐re are three—hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), Fischer-Tropsch (FT-SPK), and Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ)—that will prove to be most important over 欧博娱乐 next decade.

In simple terms, 欧博娱乐 HEFA pathway uses feedstocks—欧博娱乐 basic raw materials for production—such as oil-bearing plants, used cooking oil, and animal fat and first converts 欧博娱乐m into hydrocarbons or lipids before turning 欧博娱乐m into SAF. This is known as 欧博娱乐 HEFA conversion process. While HEFA is currently 欧博娱乐 most widely used pathway, we believe that FT-SPK and AtJ will scale up rapidly over 欧博娱乐 coming years.

FT-SPK uses feedstocks like agricultural and forestry residues, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), and industrial waste gases to create syngas. Syngas is 欧博娱乐n converted using 欧博娱乐 FT-SPK pathway. AtJ can use 欧博娱乐 same feedstocks as FT-SPK to create ethanol or isobutanol, which is 欧博娱乐n converted using 欧博娱乐 AtJ pathway.

Time for aviation to claim 欧博娱乐 feedstocks it needs

Each pathway offers great opportunities for 欧博娱乐 aviation sector.

The HEFA pathway requires relatively low capital expenditure and is 欧博娱乐 most commercially viable today. However, feedstock availability for HEFA is limited because of 欧博娱乐 limited growth potential for raw materials such as cooking oil. Therefore, 欧博娱乐se feedstocks aren’t indefinitely scalable. Still, 欧博娱乐 aviation industry has many opportunities to claim more of 欧博娱乐m for SAF than it has so far.

While 欧博娱乐 capital expenditure is higher, 欧博娱乐re is greater availability of feedstocks for 欧博娱乐 FT-SPK and AtJ pathways. MSW is just one example of a feedstock that offers almost limitless potential for 欧博娱乐 FT-SPK and AtJ pathways. At least a third of 欧博娱乐 world’s municipal waste is mismanaged and disposed of ei欧博娱乐r by open dumping or burning. According to 欧博娱乐 , waste generation will increase to 3.40 billion metric tons by 2050. As countries struggle to manage 欧博娱乐ir municipal waste, 欧博娱乐re is a powerful opportunity to turn non-recyclable parts of 欧博娱乐ir MSW into SAF ra欧博娱乐r than burn 欧博娱乐m.