#Sustainability20: EU Launches SAF “Clearing House” & More
Weekly Roundup - 12/07/24
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry Updates
Airlines are distancing themselves from the 2030 SAF target, stating it was pushed by governments. They express concern over SAF availability and cost, emphasising the need for increased production and affordability.
Three British airports have been granted a court order to prevent environmental protesters from disrupting flights during summer holidays, following the threat of protests by the Just Stop Oil group.
A team in Germany successfully tested the V2500 engine with 100% sustainable aviation fuel, part of Pratt and Whitney’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in aviation by 2050.
IATA’s cabin waste audit trials suggest the aviation sector produces over 3.6 million tonnes of cabin and catering waste annually, with food and beverage waste accounting for 65% of total.
CLIMATE WATCH: BP-owned company is selling carbon credits on trees that aren’t in danger, analysis find - The Guardian
Satellite analysis finds some forest carbon offsets sold by Finite Carbon offer little or no climate benefit, raising concerns about the global offsetting industry’s effectiveness.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Alaska Airlines is partnering with Regent to bring all-electric seagliders to Hawaii, aiming to modernise maritime transportation and provide clean-energy solutions for inter-island travel.
Comi Aerospace has developed a new economy class seat for low-cost narrowbody operators, offering 30” pitch sensation at 28” pitch while keeping weight low and ensuring 90% recyclability.
Hamad International Airport is partnering with Siemens to optimise district cooling infrastructure, aiming to reduce energy consumption and support the airport’s growth and sustainability goals.
Oman Air has redesigned Economy Class earphone packaging, replacing single-use plastic with recyclable Kraft paper envelope, eliminating 6.48 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually.
Royal Mail has halved domestic flights, increasing road vehicle use to improve reliability and reduce carbon emissions, saving 30,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
EASA has launched a SAF Clearing House to support development and approval of new SAF pathways, providing producers with resources to comply with ASTM D4054 standard evaluation.
Shell has paused the construction of its Rotterdam biofuel plant due to difficult market conditions, and is expecting a financial hit of $600 million to $1 billion.
Japan is working to develop standards for SAF, with plans to begin drafting legislation later this year, relying on ASTM D7566 as SAF definition.
Cathay Pacific and DB Schenker have partnered to promote SAF use, signing an agreement to cut over 2,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions through Cathay’s corporate SAF Programme.
Norwegian company Wastefront plans to produce SAF from recycled tires at a new factory in Sunderland, processing 80,000 tons of tires annually using pyrolytic technology.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
After much political wrangling, Volocity “will fly over Paris during Olympic Games” - eVTOL Insights
The French Government has granted Volocopter permission for limited eVTOL flights over Paris during Olympic Games, with a vertipad on River Seine near Austerlitz railway station.
The Atlantic County Economic Alliance hosted an event showcasing BETA Technologies’ all-electric ALIA aircraft, highlighting advancements in sustainable aviation technology.
Joby Aviation successfully flies its eVTOL aircraft with hydrogen-electric propulsion system, achieving 523-mile range and demonstrating potential for regional air services.
Bankstown Airport in Sydney became the first in Australia to introduce hydrogen fuel for aircraft, partnering with AMSL Aero to develop infrastructure for VTOL aircraft Vertiia.
Milan’s airport operator SEA conducted the first trial of electric VTOL drones for cargo transport, using the Nimbus drone to carry a light load over 8km. The U-ELCOME project aims to test innovative solutions and develop U-space services for safe drone operations.
Japanese conglomerate Itochu has invested in ZeroAvia, becoming its Asian sales representative. They will collaborate on maintenance and infrastructure. ZeroAvia aims to certify hydrogen fuel cell engines for 40-80-seat aircraft by 2027, with orders for 2,000 systems.