The International Air Transport Association is all set on the mission to reduce the net carbon footprint of the aviation sector by the end of 2050.
With the rapidly accelerating climate crisis, it’s essential to consider the environmental challenges as well.
The impact of climate change will be more severe than ever predicted. With the scientific evidence being unequivocal, humans and the planet’s ecosystem are threatened by climate change.
To get to net-zero by the end of 2050, IATA will use 450 billion liters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Work is already underway based on existing knowledge and the technology to deliver SAF.
The Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer did a series of flight tests with complete SAF in one engine even with the current legal limit of 50% blend.
Turkish Airlines was the first one to fly on SAF in the Airbus A321 from Istanbul to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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Neste is about to launch a Singapore sustainable aviation fuel plant by Airbus, Safran, Rolls-Royce. The Japanese government wants to replace 10% of the jet fuel with eco-friendly substitutes in the airlines by 2030.
On top of that, CFM International and Airbus have agreed to collaborate to work on the hydrogen demonstrator by mid-decade.
The major target of Airbus is to have a commercial hydrogen plane by 2035. Therefore, these collaborations can actually help reduce the carbon footprint of flights.
The Dublin airport authority is simultaneously planning to help Dublin airport with the solar farm to help achieve the net-zero emission target.
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They have also identified algae to be a viable feedstock for renewable fuels. However, it has not been used as a part of regular commercial production yet.
The promising characteristic of algae to turn sunlight fertilizers and water into fuel is very hopeful for improving our ecosystem.
However, a substantial amount of energy will be required to turn feedstock into biofuel. Hence this renewable fuel will be expensive, and it can also interfere with the emission reduction process.