Page 28 - European Energy Innovation magazine - spring 2023 edition

Spring 2023 European Energy Innovation
28 AVIATION DECARBONISATION

Decarbonising aviation in the EU

The potential of using

sustainable aviation fuels

By Dietmar Bloemen, Sustainable Aviation Programme Manager, EASA

n the past few years, a multitude emissions from other sectors. In fuels, and are further characterized by
of ‘net zero CO emissions’ targets the near-term, the best and most their type of feedstock and production
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for aviation have been set by promising contribution from aviation processes applied. In the EU, SAF
Iindividual companies, industry is undoubtedly the widespread are defined in the Renewable Energy
associations and governments in adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels Directive and the RefuelEU Aviation
support of emission reductions that (SAF), alongside further operational regulatory proposal.
align with the Paris Agreement goal improvements and market-based
of capping global warming at 1.5° measures. Novel technologies such As the emissions from the
Celsius. However, in order to achieve as hydrogen-powered and electric combustion of SAF are comparable
this goal more efforts will be needed. aircraft, will bring a further step to fossil-based jet fuels, except for
To illustrate: CO emissions of all change – but these developments marginal efficiency gains, the
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flights departing from the EU27+EFTA will take time. majority of the reductions in
airports reached 147 million tonnes greenhouse gas emissions originate
in 2019, which was 34% more than in What are Sustainable Aviation Fuels? from the production process.
2005. A Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) In order to assess the overall
is a sustainable, non-conventional, climate benefit from using SAF, a
This increase is due to traffic alternative to fossil-based jet fuel. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), as part
growth outpacing fuel efficiency SAF may include biofuels as well as of the sustainability certification
improvements and reductions of synthetic fuels, such as power-to-liquid process, is performed to account
for all the stages in the life cycle of
aviation fuels.

Depending on the type of feedstock
Figure 1: Carbon cycle in producing power-to-liquid (PtL) SAF and the innovative production
(Source: European Aviation Environmental Report 2022)
process applied, emission reductions
up to 100% can be achieved (e.g.
power-to-liquid fuels based on
renewable electricity and CO
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captured from the air).

In addition, SAF feedstock and
production process typically result
in very low levels of sulphur and
aromatic content and this provides
further benefits on both air quality
around airports as well as climate
change through the reduction in the
formation of contrail-cirrus clouds
which would otherwise act as a
light blanket trapping heat emitted
from the Earth’s surface into the
atmosphere.
In order to be safely used in

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