This vast resource can meet the projected fuel demand of the US aviation industry, produce additional volumes of drop-in low carbon fuels for use in other modes of transportation, and produce high-value bioproducts and renewable chemicals. SAF grown from renewable and waste resources can create new economic opportunities for farmers, improve the environment, and even boost aircraft performance.
“This initiative is about proving Net-Zero commercial aviation is possible, but equally facing up to the significant logistical challenges the industry faces to turn the possible into the routine,” said Mariam Alqubaisi, Head of Sustainability & Business Excellence, Etihad Airways.
“Aviation is how the world connects but we are on a collision course as flying people and goods is one of the most carbon-intensive things humans do. Aviation is on an unsustainable trajectory as it is projected to continue to account for an ever-greater share of global carbon emissions. But there is a way off this course,” said Gene Gebolys, CEO, World Energy. “The course correction will come from the fuel tank rather than the cockpit.
Etihad Airways will become the world’s first airline to fly a commercial airliner across the Atlantic while managing non-CO2 effects through contrail avoidance prediction and flight planning. This is possible by tokenizing and trading CO2e avoidance credits, which partially offset operational and handling costs. In addition, other sources are helping minimize these extra cost such as government subsidies reducing the SAF cost by 50% and 28% from the Corporate Conscious Choice programme.
Are they going to use hang-gliders?