Page 164 - CW E-Magazine (24-12-2024)

News from Abroad

GREEN AVIATION
‘SAF, battery technology and design innovation set

to drive emission reduction in aviation industry’

Widespread use of sustainable avia- Sustainable Aviation aircraft improve route economics
tion fuel (SAF) could eliminate nearly Aircrafts Battery-electric Charging and offset green premiums.
propulsion
and refueling
two-thirds of aviation industry emis- infrastructure * SAF supply remains a bottleneck:
sions by 2050, according to a report by Hydrogen Supply of SAF remains constrained,
consultancy firm, Cleantech Group. propulsion HEFA posing a challenge to greater adoption.
The US is a leader with 79,000 tons in
SAF
Currently, such uptake is cost-effec- eVTOLs 2023. It remains on track to produce
tive for long-haul flights, but not for Alcohol-to-jet more SAF in 2024 than the world’s
flights of shorter duration. Use of SAF Airships Power-to- production in 2023. Yet, it needs a
Liquid
in long-haul flights – which account for Fuel efficiency challenging 97% compound annual
only 6.2% of all flights – alone can elimi- Novel software growth rate (CAGR) for the next seve-
aircraft
solutions
nate half of all aviation industry emis- designs ral years to meet 2030 targets.
sions. Hybrid-electric or hydrogen fuel have led Europe, as usage across * Battery technology is key barrier:
has the potential to address emissions the continent grew to 167,000 tons Energy density of batteries poses the
caused by regional, medium- and short- in 2023. Europe has now set a higher single most important challenge toward
haul flights making up the other half of goal – targeting another 1-million electrification of larger aircraft and
industry emissions, the report noted. tons of SAF by 2025. in expanding the flying range for all
* Corporates driving uptake: Key aircraft. For effective electrification
“Global SAF production is increas- drivers are decarbonisation goals for of regional and short-haul aircraft
ing rapidly, but uptake remains at 0.2% 2050 set for their members by the alone, battery density needs to triple.
of all global aircraft fuel. Airlines and International Air Transport Association Limited advances in hydrogen fuel
operators are actively engaging with (IATA) and International Civil Avia- cell technology similarly limit the
decarbonisation solutions such as elec- tion Organization (ICAO) as well as adoption of an alternative technology
tric, hydrogen, and hybrid aircrafts to minimum SAF uptake mandates in to power aircraft, but a breakthrough
achieve high rates of decarbonisation the EU. While SAF premiums are could be sighted from innovations in
without relying on the uncertain SAF currently exorbitant, many major air- storage of liquid hydrogen.
market,” said Ms. Nicole Cerulli, Asso- lines and operators have established * Design solutions emerging: Innova-
ciate, Transportation & Logistics. uptake targets. Key demand owners tive aircraft design that reduces weight
for SAF are financial corporations and drag, lowering engine or motor
“These technologies reduce fuel and aiming to reduce Scope-3 emissions requirements and improving fuel effi-
operations costs and will be compatible (emissions emerging outside of an ciency, is expected to provide a new
with SAF when supply scales sufficiently organisation’s direct control but still thrust to the quest to cut aviation in-
to meet demand,” she added. seen as a result of the organisation’s dustry emissions. Early results have
business activities). shown promise. Jetzero’s blended-
Other key findings of the report * Hybrid offers fastest path: Hybrid- wing-body aircraft halves emissions,
include: electric aircraft with capabilities while Natilus’ similar aircraft for cargo
to cut emissions from 40% to 100% transport can cut emissions by 50%.
* Europe is early leader: Europe and offer the quickest way to market. Hybrid Air Vehicles, which has deve-
European carriers dominate use of Such solutions can be enabled via loped an airship leveraging helium to
SAF with an 80% market share. retrofitting or new build aircrafts increase hull buoyancy, says its inno-
North America comes second with and can be scaled to regional vation can cut 75% of emissions. The
16%, while the rest of the world narrowbody flights carrying about technology enjoys a key advantage
uses about 4%. Air France-KLM, 150 passengers over the next because it is compatible with aircraft
logistics giant DHL and IAG, the decade. Additionally, by cutting running on an internal combustion
parent company of British Airways, operational cost by about 40%, hybrid engine and electric propulsion.

164 Chemical Weekly December 24, 2024

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