Decarbonising Long-Haul Flights: Towards Sustainable Aviation by 2050
Key Ideas
- Long-haul flights are a major contributor to aviation emissions, with over 50% of carbon emissions coming from less than 10% of departures.
- Transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft can significantly reduce carbon emissions.
- The FlyingGreen platform's FuellingDecarb module assesses the feasibility of producing enough SAF to meet decarbonisation targets for long-haul flights.
- Collaboration with other transport sectors like road and maritime can expedite the shift towards sustainable aviation fuels.
The article discusses the challenge of decarbonising long-haul flights by 2050, highlighting the disproportionate carbon emissions from a small percentage of departures. While electric and hydrogen aircraft are progressing for short-haul travel, they are deemed unviable for long-haul operations. The focus is on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and fleet renewal as key strategies to reduce emissions. The FlyingGreen platform's FuellingDecarb module analyzes the feasibility of producing sufficient SAF to meet decarbonisation targets. The article suggests centralising SAF supplies at key airports with long-haul traffic to improve efficiency and environmental benefits. Additionally, replacing older aircraft with newer, fuel-efficient models could reduce carbon emissions by 10% and lessen SAF requirements. Synergies with other transport sectors are seen as crucial for expediting SAF production. The overall sentiment of the article is positive, emphasizing the potential for achieving net zero goals through a combination of sustainable aviation fuel, green energy expansion, and fleet renewal.