By Matt Wills, Kent market director for low carbon onshore projects
As aviation seeks pathways to decarbonise, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as a critical solution, offering a "drop-in" option that can be integrated with existing jet engines and fuel infrastructure.
The challenge of finding a sustainable alternative to aviation fuel could offer new opportunities for Scotland’s carbon capture and green hydrogen industries, says Neil Kermode, managing director of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.
The aviation industry is running out of time to introduce cleaner planes needed to eliminate net carbon emissions from air travel by 2050, according to a study released Thursday.
“Direct air capture shouldn’t be compared to point source carbon capture, what it should be compared to is [SAF],” the CEO said. SAF has more emissions than Oxy’s net zero oil, she continued.
The challenge over the next 10 years will be in scaling up SAF production. Green hydrogen production is relatively niche, as yet. “A lack of green power and electrolysis capacity, this will not make a dent” in the projected SAF demand.
Questions of green or blue hydrogen are by the by, there is a major need for construction to get under way in order to achieve net zero participants at the fourth episode of Hydrogen – Tracking Transition said recently.
Helicopter operator Bristow has begun offshore flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), marking some of the first operations in the UK North Sea powered by the lower-carbon alternative.