Kate's Column - Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- 29th Feb 2024
Across the Company we are working hard to increase our awareness of sustainability issues and focussing on how to reduce our impact on the environment. All of us have a role in tackling this, and increasing our knowledge and understanding of emerging technologies and innovations is an important aspect. I wanted to use this month’s column to focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a promising way to reduce carbon emissions within aviation.
Currently, SAF is still a niche product, only accounting for less than 0.1% of global jet fuel consumption. However, there is hope that it will become a more established and competitive product to facilitate the aviation industry in their journey to reducing carbon emissions.
The fuel is already being used within the industry, in November 2022 alongside the Royal Air Force as part of their Cobra Warrior exercise, industry leaders paved the way with an RAF Voyager taking to the skies from Brize Norton, solely powered by SAF.
Elsewhere, both Rolls-Royce and Airbus, who are supporters of RIAT, have been proactive when it comes to SAF. The former have put together a great article on SAF which explores the different types, the current challenges it faces and what the future of it looks like. If you would like to give it a read (which I recommend) please find the link here.
Recently Airbus reported it used over 11 million litres of SAF during its operations in 2023, doubling what it used in 2022 which is great to see! By using SAF across various areas of their work, from employee travel to test flights and aircraft delivery, 23,000 tonnes less Co2 entering the atmosphere.
Also, as I sit and write this column, Singapore Airshow is taking place where Airbus have debuted an A350-1000 which has been powered by sustainable fuel, it is fantastic to see sustainability become more visible within the industry. It is something we are striving to achieve ourselves, so there may be some exciting news in future.
In addition to this, Belgium recently hosted the European Airshow Conference, which was attended by some of my colleagues. Sustainability was high on the agenda for the event, as airshows across Europe focus on this key area.
Thank you for your continued support and I am looking forward to updating you in March with our latest sustainability-related news.
