The Future of Flight and Sustainable Aviation Fuels
The aviation sector has a prominent position in uniting people across the globe, allowing them to see and experience the world like never before and connect with others in ways that were simply not possible throughout most of human history. However, the carbon footprint of aviation is a cause for concern, and its future as a net-zero industry in 2050 is anything but a sure bet. A promising hedge against that concern is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which replaces the not-so-friendly kerosene Jawa Jet fuels of yore with something that is at least purporting to be more environmentally sound. In this article, we will look at the twin jets of industry—Boeing and Airbus—and what they say about SAF and its potential to impact the future of aviation.
What Is Aviators’ Fuel of the Future?
Aviators’ fuel of the future is derived from renewable energy sources like cooking oil, waste products, or algae. Unlike fossil fuels, this biodiesel can reduce ecological, or carbon emissions, by as much as 80 percent during its life cycle compared to traditional jet fuel. Even the aviation branch of the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, says that sustainable aviation fuels could play a part in the “decoupling” of air travel from the use of fossil fuels.
Indeed, sustainable aviation fuels are being undertaken by some of the biggest names in the aviation sector who are pouring billions into startup companies and into research and development to ensure aviation is part of a sustainable energy future. The initiative to drive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption is dominated by a few major players. Boeing’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) initiative is an example of this commitment and stands out as one of the most vocal SAF adopters in the global aviation industry.
The Cost Problems of SAF
Although there is no question about the environmental benefits of sustainable aviation fuel, its cost presents a major obstacle to the widespread adoption of SAF. The 2021 EIA report indicated that between 2016 and 2019, the cost of SAJF ranged from $10.85 to $15.34 per gallon. In comparison, conventional jet fuel averaged $2.63 per gallon during that same time span.
The main reasons for SAF’s high cost are limited production capabilities and advanced refining techniques. To understand the problem with SAF cost and its possible solutions, we need to know what contributes to SAF cost and what production levels are necessary to achieve reasonable costs. Examining the cost of sustainable aviation fuels offers a deeper look at these challenges and potential paths forward.
What Lies Ahead
Today’s sustainable aviation fuel is not a distant future concept; it’s a present-day imperative. Programmes like Boeing’s SAF initiative illustrate that the industry’s heavyweights are serious about making the dream of carbon-neutral air travel a reality. But moving SAF from the experimental to the operational stage will take concerted effort and lots of money—roughly $3 billion a year for the next several years, according to the Air Transport Association.
Although aviation can’t achieve SAF’s ambitious carbon-reduction goals without drop-in capability (meaning that conventional aircraft can burn SAF without a hitch), present-day SAF shows a path toward becoming that kind of capability. So what does “path” mean? And what kind of “SAF” are we talking about?
Sustainable aviation fuel is not merely the fuel of the future—it’s the fuel of now. By scaling up production and addressing cost challenges, SAF has the potential to revolutionise the aviation industry and make net-zero aviation a reality.
