Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a type of aviation fuel that is produced from sustainable sources, such as biomass, waste, or captured carbon dioxide. It has a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional jet fuel, making it a promising solution for reducing the environmental impact of aviation.
The International Civil Aviation Organization defines Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meets sustainability criteria
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Airplanes are one of the world’s biggest polluters. Jet fuels not only add to greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, but they also emit other kinds of toxins.
The increased use of sustainable aviation fuel will certainly help all the problems of climate change, SAF is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.
And one of the great things about SAF is that it can be made from recycling items that would otherwise need to be discarded as waste. For example, have you ever thought about what happens with all that oil used for deep frying in restaurants? They collect it and send it away because it cannot simply be pored down the drain. Well, it can be recycled and used for fuel. And so can other types of used oils.
Then there is all that agricultural waste, such as straw and corn. SAF can also be made from forestry waste, like wood chips and sawdust.
Also, more and more communities are requiring that people separate their biodegradable wastes like uneaten foods. These are collected separately and used for things like compost because such waste releases greenhouse gases as they decompose. But it can also be used for fuels like SAF.
And believe it or not, some day they might be able to recapture much of that excess carbon dioxide the atmosphere and reuse it for fuel.
And SAF can be produced using a variety of technologies, including Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) and direct air capture and liquefaction (DACL).
Before you get too excited, though, SAF is still too expensive to produce to make a difference. But in the near future, as the technology advances, the cost is expected to decrease making it more practical to use.
SAF can be used in existing aircraft without any modifications, and it can be blended with traditional jet fuel in any proportion. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set a goal of using 10% SAF by 2030.
The use of SAF is a key part of the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. It is a promising solution that has the potential to make a significant impact on the environment.
