Decarbonising Aviation: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Key Ideas
  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a key player in decarbonising the aviation industry due to its compatibility with existing engines, long-distance flight capabilities, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The industry has seen promising growth in SAF consumption, but challenges such as high costs, limited feedstocks, and uneven global distribution remain barriers to widespread adoption.
  • Potential solutions like fossil fuel surcharges, investment subsidies, and diversified technology pathways could help overcome these challenges and drive down costs for SAF production over time.
  • Global harmonisation of sustainability standards and the book and claim strategy could improve transparency, facilitate international trade, and encourage wider adoption of SAF across various regions and airlines.
The aviation industry, responsible for 2.5-3% of global CO2 emissions, is looking to decarbonise through Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), hydrogen, and electric power. SAF is the most promising option due to its compatibility with existing engines, long-distance flight capabilities, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The CORSIA scheme mandates emissions monitoring and offsetting, with SAF needing to achieve at least a 10% reduction in CO2 emissions to qualify. Despite SAF consumption doubling from 2022 to 2023, challenges like high costs and limited feedstocks persist. Potential solutions include fossil fuel surcharges and technology diversification to lower production costs over time. Global standards and the book and claim strategy could enhance transparency and promote international trade in SAF. India, with a rapidly growing aviation industry, faces challenges in SAF adoption due to cost-effectiveness and feedstock limitations. The country may need technical assistance to accelerate SAF availability and use. Harmonisation of global sustainability standards could streamline certification processes and facilitate SAF trade. Overall, overcoming challenges in SAF adoption is crucial for the aviation industry's sustainable future.
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