With the airline industry looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly, finding sustainable aviation fuel sources is a large way in which they can accomplish this. There are numerous names for sustainable fuel sources such as alternative fuel sources and biofuel. Sustainable aviation fuels are describe by the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group as “…ones meeting set sustainability criteria that can be processed to yield a fuel that can be a drop in replacement for, or blended with, existing jet fuel”—meaning that they will not require changes to existing jet engines. They also hold a set of characteristics (as described by the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group):
· Exhibit minimal impact on biodiversity
· Meet a sustainability standard with respect to land, water, and energy use
· Do not displace or compete with food crops
· Provide a positive socioeconomic impact
· Do not require any special fuel handling equipment, distribution systems, or changes to engine design
Examples of alternative fuel sources are things such as algae, camelina, halophytes, jatropha, and non-food cellulose. These sources absorb carbon dioxide while they grow and generally have a higher energy content which can results in the saving of millions of tones of aviation greenhouse gas emissions.
Take a look at how algae is being grown to be used as a biofuel!
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group was launched in 2008 and is “…an airline-led industry working group focused on accelerating the development and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels”. Currently twenty-four airlines are part of the group who have all signed a sustainability pledge with the common goal of seeking lower carbon emissions and their impacts in hopes of seeing environmental and social benefits.
So while this sounds all well and good for the environment, how do the participating members volunteer? While in addition to promoting a positive image in the minds of their consumers, and in turn gaining a competitive advantage, through using these alternative fuel sources airlines generally see a reduction in their greenhouse gas emissions which result in less carbon taxes and penalties, saving the organization hefty fees.
An example of the use of alternative fuel sources in aviation comes from Qantas, an Australian based airline. Qantas is on board with the alternative fuel source movement and recognizes “The environmental impacts associated with traditional jet fuel mean it is imperative that we push hard now for the commercialisation of alternative fuel sources”. As a result of the knowledge of how important it is to use alternative fuel sources, Qantas has set a goal to be sourcing 5% of its jet fuel from sustainable sources by 2016. In addition, with its passion towards the positive effects of alternative fuel sources, Qantas wants to position itself as a leader within the airline industry and as a result has created partnerships with innovative companies in the field in hopes of working to develop alternative fuel sources that will one day be used throughout the globe. Hopefully Qantas efforts are just the beginning of what the airline industry has to offer!
Sources used for this post:
Alaska Airlines. (2010, July 12). Transportation And Aviation Leaders Launch Sustainable Biofuels Initiative . Retrieved March 7, 2011, from Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air: http://splash.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/ASNews/ASstories/AS_20100712_082929.asp
EQ2. (2010, February). Sustainable Flying: Biofuels as an Economic and Environmental Salve for the Airline Industry. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from EQ2 Insight: http://www.scribd.com/doc/26566570/Sustainable-Flying-Biofuels-as-an-Economic-and-Environmental-Salve-for-the-Airline-Industry
Qantas . (2011). Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from Qantas: Spirit of Australia : http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/sustainable-aviation-fuel/global/en
Reals, K. (2011, March 4). Qantas in talks with two other biofuel producers. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from Flight Global: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/03/04/353850/qantas-in-talks-with-two-other-biofuel-producers.html
Sustainable Aviation Fuel User's Group. (2010, August). European Section: Governments’ Unique Role in Sustainable Aviation Biofuel . Retrieved March 7, 2011, from Sustainable Aviation Fuel User's Group: http://www.safug.org/assets/docs/SAFUG_Brochure.pdf
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