Singapore investigates offtake mechanisms to drive long-term deployment of SAF at Changi International
Singapore has commenced a study of options to enable and drive the long-term use of sustainable aviation fuel at Changi International Airport. Among the measures being considered are SAF blending mandates and government incentives to encourage SAF production and use. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has invited tenders from consultancy services to study and develop a “structural offtake mechanism” to support the adoption of SAF at Changi and strengthen its competitiveness as a sustainable aviation hub. The Singapore government says it is committed to establishing a sustainable air transport hub by adopting a broad range of measures, in…
Singapore has commenced a study of options to enable and drive the long-term use of sustainable aviation fuel at Changi International Airport. Among the measures being considered are SAF blending mandates and government incentives to encourage SAF production and use. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has invited tenders from consultancy services to study and develop a “structural offtake mechanism” to support the adoption of SAF at Changi and strengthen its competitiveness as a sustainable aviation hub. The Singapore government says it is committed to establishing a sustainable air transport hub by adopting a broad range of measures, in…
COMMENTARY: With mounting challenges over its climate impact, is aviation’s social licence at risk?
This year begins with a reflective assessment of the aviation sector’s climate credentials and the challenges it faces, write Jarlath Molloy and Finlay Asher, who point out this may not be an easy read for some, as there are many barriers to overcome. The strategy so far has been to stick our heads in the sand and ignore these, they say. Yet there are pathways to a safe landing and the costs of doing something are less than the costs of doing nothing. In this article the authors look to shine a spotlight on aviation’s full climate impact and how…
This year begins with a reflective assessment of the aviation sector’s climate credentials and the challenges it faces, write Jarlath Molloy and Finlay Asher, who point out this may not be an easy read for some, as there are many barriers to overcome. The strategy so far has been to stick our heads in the sand and ignore these, they say. Yet there are pathways to a safe landing and the costs of doing something are less than the costs of doing nothing. In this article the authors look to shine a spotlight on aviation’s full climate impact and how…
Amex GBT integrates with CHOOOSE to enhance business air travel emissions data
Leading B2B travel platform American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has reached an agreement with CHOOOSE to integrate the climate tech company’s carbon emissions calculations across Amex GBT’s travel booking and reporting tools. With the integration, business travellers will see consistent trip emissions values in their search results, itineraries and in the Amex GBT Mobile app for past and future trips. Currently, Amex GBT displays carbon emission data in its online booking tool Neo to help travellers make “educated, sustainable” decisions and the new move will replace current calculation mechanisms with seamlessly integrated emissions calculations from CHOOOSE. Travel managers…
Leading B2B travel platform American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has reached an agreement with CHOOOSE to integrate the climate tech company’s carbon emissions calculations across Amex GBT’s travel booking and reporting tools. With the integration, business travellers will see consistent trip emissions values in their search results, itineraries and in the Amex GBT Mobile app for past and future trips. Currently, Amex GBT displays carbon emission data in its online booking tool Neo to help travellers make “educated, sustainable” decisions and the new move will replace current calculation mechanisms with seamlessly integrated emissions calculations from CHOOOSE. Travel managers…
New year brings new agreements by airlines in Japan and Europe to purchase sustainable aviation fuel
Amidst a forecast that contracted volumes of sustainable aviation fuel under offtake agreements could double this year, four significant SAF initiatives have been announced in the first weeks of 2023. Japan’s two biggest airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, have signed identical memorandums of agreement with industrial group ITOCHU Corporation and Raven SR, a US-based renewable fuels company, for 10-year deals to buy SAF produced from solid waste, while in Europe, Lufthansa Group subsidiary Brussels Airlines has purchased 2 million litres of blended product from SAF producer Neste, the first supplies of which have been pumped direct to Brussels…
Amidst a forecast that contracted volumes of sustainable aviation fuel under offtake agreements could double this year, four significant SAF initiatives have been announced in the first weeks of 2023. Japan’s two biggest airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, have signed identical memorandums of agreement with industrial group ITOCHU Corporation and Raven SR, a US-based renewable fuels company, for 10-year deals to buy SAF produced from solid waste, while in Europe, Lufthansa Group subsidiary Brussels Airlines has purchased 2 million litres of blended product from SAF producer Neste, the first supplies of which have been pumped direct to Brussels…
Emirates and industry partners conduct Boeing 777 demo flight using 100% SAF in one engine
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER has performed a demonstration flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel to power one of its two GE90 engines. The flight on 30 January was the latest initiative in an industry campaign to secure regulatory approval for flights fully powered by SAF. Currently, the maximum allowed is a 50% blend with conventional jet fuel. It was conducted in partnership with Boeing, GE Aerospace, Honeywell and renewable fuel companies Neste and Virent. The flight, which followed the Dubai coastline for more than one hour, was a key initiative of the ‘Year of Sustainability’ declared by the UAE to…
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER has performed a demonstration flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel to power one of its two GE90 engines. The flight on 30 January was the latest initiative in an industry campaign to secure regulatory approval for flights fully powered by SAF. Currently, the maximum allowed is a 50% blend with conventional jet fuel. It was conducted in partnership with Boeing, GE Aerospace, Honeywell and renewable fuel companies Neste and Virent. The flight, which followed the Dubai coastline for more than one hour, was a key initiative of the ‘Year of Sustainability’ declared by the UAE to…
United Airlines forms $50m joint venture to produce SAF from ethanol using a new technology pathway
In its largest direct investment in sustainable aviation fuels yet, United Airlines Ventures has formed a $50 million joint venture – Blue Blade Energy – with Tallgrass and Green Plains to develop and then commercialise a novel SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock. If the technology, which has been developed by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), proves successful then construction of a pilot facility is expected to proceed in 2024, followed by a full-scale facility that could begin commercial operations by 2028. Once operational, Blue Blade Energy has the potential to…
In its largest direct investment in sustainable aviation fuels yet, United Airlines Ventures has formed a $50 million joint venture – Blue Blade Energy – with Tallgrass and Green Plains to develop and then commercialise a novel SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock. If the technology, which has been developed by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), proves successful then construction of a pilot facility is expected to proceed in 2024, followed by a full-scale facility that could begin commercial operations by 2028. Once operational, Blue Blade Energy has the potential to…
Heart, Embraer and Universal Hydrogen join Air New Zealand’s zero-emission regional aircraft programme
Air New Zealand has named Heart Aerospace, Embraer and Universal Hydrogen as new partners in its Mission Next Generation Aircraft accelerator research programme to help identify low-or-no emission technology to replace or upgrade its fleet of 23 Q300 turboprop aircraft. The companies will join Airbus and turboprop manufacturer ATR as long-term partners for the airline as it seeks not only a sustainably-powered regional aircraft from 2030 but also clean energy and infrastructure. Also joining the programme is the Robinson Research Institute of New Zealand’s Victoria University, a specialist in superconducting technologies, which will help Air New Zealand to evaluate and…
Air New Zealand has named Heart Aerospace, Embraer and Universal Hydrogen as new partners in its Mission Next Generation Aircraft accelerator research programme to help identify low-or-no emission technology to replace or upgrade its fleet of 23 Q300 turboprop aircraft. The companies will join Airbus and turboprop manufacturer ATR as long-term partners for the airline as it seeks not only a sustainably-powered regional aircraft from 2030 but also clean energy and infrastructure. Also joining the programme is the Robinson Research Institute of New Zealand’s Victoria University, a specialist in superconducting technologies, which will help Air New Zealand to evaluate and…
Virgin Atlantic targeting November for first transatlantic 100% SAF net zero flight
Following its successful bid for UK government funding of £1 million (.2m), Virgin Atlantic says it expects to conduct the first-ever net zero transatlantic flight to be powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel in November. The airline has put together a consortium with six partners – Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, ICF and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) – and is forming up to seven working groups for what it describes as a highly challenging project. Virgin is targeting the Rolls-Royce engine-powered Boeing 787 flight between London Heathrow and New York JFK to carry non-paying passengers, subject…
Following its successful bid for UK government funding of £1 million (.2m), Virgin Atlantic says it expects to conduct the first-ever net zero transatlantic flight to be powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel in November. The airline has put together a consortium with six partners – Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, ICF and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) – and is forming up to seven working groups for what it describes as a highly challenging project. Virgin is targeting the Rolls-Royce engine-powered Boeing 787 flight between London Heathrow and New York JFK to carry non-paying passengers, subject…
Alder Fuels reorganises after leadership upheaval and receives DOE grant to support new demo facility
The start of 2023 has been a challenging time for US sustainable aviation fuel startup Alder Fuels as it undergoes changes following the sudden departure of its founder and CEO Bryan Sherbacow. Following a new multimillion-dollar injection of funding from its existing investors, the company has now reorganised its operations, personnel and partnerships, and is focusing its resources on commercial deployment and certification of its Alder Greencrude (AGC) technology. Industry veteran Sherbacow, who the Alder board said had “engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited him personally”, has been replaced by Acting CEO Tim Obitts. In positive news for…
The start of 2023 has been a challenging time for US sustainable aviation fuel startup Alder Fuels as it undergoes changes following the sudden departure of its founder and CEO Bryan Sherbacow. Following a new multimillion-dollar injection of funding from its existing investors, the company has now reorganised its operations, personnel and partnerships, and is focusing its resources on commercial deployment and certification of its Alder Greencrude (AGC) technology. Industry veteran Sherbacow, who the Alder board said had “engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited him personally”, has been replaced by Acting CEO Tim Obitts. In positive news for…
Alder Fuels reorganises after leadership upheaval and receives DOE grant to support new demo facility
The start of 2023 has been a challenging time for US sustainable aviation fuel startup Alder Fuels as it undergoes changes following the sudden departure of its founder and CEO Bryan Sherbacow. Following a new multimillion-dollar injection of funding from its existing investors, the company has now reorganised its operations, personnel and partnerships, and is focusing its resources on commercial deployment and certification of its Alder Greencrude (AGC) technology. Industry veteran Sherbacow, who the Alder board said had “engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited him personally”, has been replaced by Acting CEO Tim Obitts. In positive news for…
The start of 2023 has been a challenging time for US sustainable aviation fuel startup Alder Fuels as it undergoes changes following the sudden departure of its founder and CEO Bryan Sherbacow. Following a new multimillion-dollar injection of funding from its existing investors, the company has now reorganised its operations, personnel and partnerships, and is focusing its resources on commercial deployment and certification of its Alder Greencrude (AGC) technology. Industry veteran Sherbacow, who the Alder board said had “engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited him personally”, has been replaced by Acting CEO Tim Obitts. In positive news for…
Alder Fuels reorganises after leadership upheaval and receives DOE grant to support new demo facility
The start of 2023 has been a challenging time for US sustainable aviation fuel startup Alder Fuels as it undergoes changes following the sudden departure of its founder and CEO Bryan Sherbacow. Following a new multimillion-dollar injection of funding from its existing investors, the company has now reorganised its operations, personnel and partnerships, and is focusing its resources on commercial deployment and certification of its Alder Greencrude (AGC) technology. Industry veteran Sherbacow, who the Alder board said had “engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited him personally”, has been replaced by Acting CEO Tim Obitts. In positive news for…
The start of 2023 has been a challenging time for US sustainable aviation fuel startup Alder Fuels as it undergoes changes following the sudden departure of its founder and CEO Bryan Sherbacow. Following a new multimillion-dollar injection of funding from its existing investors, the company has now reorganised its operations, personnel and partnerships, and is focusing its resources on commercial deployment and certification of its Alder Greencrude (AGC) technology. Industry veteran Sherbacow, who the Alder board said had “engaged in questionable financial transactions that benefited him personally”, has been replaced by Acting CEO Tim Obitts. In positive news for…
Lufthansa Group announces ‘Green Fares’, a new SAF agreement and sharkskin flights
Following a Scandinavian test run last year, the Lufthansa Group has launched its ‘Green Fares’ offering by all its six airlines on more than 730,000 flights per year within Europe and North African destinations Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Under its “more climate-friendly pledge”, the fares have already built in the extra cost of offsetting all flight-related CO2 emissions, with 20% of the contribution being used to purchase sustainable aviation fuel and the remainder in “high quality” climate protection offsets. The Green Fares can be booked “with just one click” via the airlines’ websites as well as the NDC platform…
Following a Scandinavian test run last year, the Lufthansa Group has launched its ‘Green Fares’ offering by all its six airlines on more than 730,000 flights per year within Europe and North African destinations Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Under its “more climate-friendly pledge”, the fares have already built in the extra cost of offsetting all flight-related CO2 emissions, with 20% of the contribution being used to purchase sustainable aviation fuel and the remainder in “high quality” climate protection offsets. The Green Fares can be booked “with just one click” via the airlines’ websites as well as the NDC platform…
Aviation and energy consortium formed to progress green hydrogen flights in New Zealand
Six aviation and energy businesses have formed a sustainable propulsion partnership in New Zealand to assess and drive the introduction of flights powered by green hydrogen. The Hydrogen Consortium has been established by Airbus, Air New Zealand, Christchurch Airport, Fortescue Future Industries, Hiringa Energy and Fabrum. Together, the companies will create a vision for hydrogen-powered air transport in the South Pacific nation, study the hydrogen supply chain, assess projected hydrogen needs for New Zealand aviation to 2050, and develop a package of policies, regulations and incentives to promote hydrogen-powered air transport. The first phase of the programme will be…
Six aviation and energy businesses have formed a sustainable propulsion partnership in New Zealand to assess and drive the introduction of flights powered by green hydrogen. The Hydrogen Consortium has been established by Airbus, Air New Zealand, Christchurch Airport, Fortescue Future Industries, Hiringa Energy and Fabrum. Together, the companies will create a vision for hydrogen-powered air transport in the South Pacific nation, study the hydrogen supply chain, assess projected hydrogen needs for New Zealand aviation to 2050, and develop a package of policies, regulations and incentives to promote hydrogen-powered air transport. The first phase of the programme will be…
Heathrow offers airlines £38m to support greater use of SAF as government consults on 2040 zero-emission target for airports
London’s Heathrow Airport is making available a £38 million ($46m) fund to encourage airlines using the airport to power their aircraft in part by sustainable aviation fuel, with the incentive aimed at covering up to 50% of the extra cost of SAF compared to conventional jet fuel. The oversubscribed incentive scheme started in 2022 with six airlines participating and Heathrow is now aiming to triple the percentage of SAF used this year to 1.5% and become one of the world’s leading airport users of SAF. English airports are targeted by the UK government to be zero-emission by 2040 and…
London’s Heathrow Airport is making available a £38 million ($46m) fund to encourage airlines using the airport to power their aircraft in part by sustainable aviation fuel, with the incentive aimed at covering up to 50% of the extra cost of SAF compared to conventional jet fuel. The oversubscribed incentive scheme started in 2022 with six airlines participating and Heathrow is now aiming to triple the percentage of SAF used this year to 1.5% and become one of the world’s leading airport users of SAF. English airports are targeted by the UK government to be zero-emission by 2040 and…
United Airlines launches new $100 million fund dedicated to sustainable aviation fuel investment
United Airlines, the world’s third largest carrier, has created a dedicated investment vehicle to support start-up businesses focused on sustainable aviation fuel. The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund is designed to help accelerate research, production and technologies linked to SAF, the main and most available means to reduce flight carbon emissions. The fund has been launched with more than $100 million in investments from Boeing, GE Aerospace, aero technology company Honeywell and global finance house JP Morgan Chase, as well as Air Canada, a key member, with United, of the Star Alliance airline group. United has also refined…
United Airlines, the world’s third largest carrier, has created a dedicated investment vehicle to support start-up businesses focused on sustainable aviation fuel. The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund is designed to help accelerate research, production and technologies linked to SAF, the main and most available means to reduce flight carbon emissions. The fund has been launched with more than $100 million in investments from Boeing, GE Aerospace, aero technology company Honeywell and global finance house JP Morgan Chase, as well as Air Canada, a key member, with United, of the Star Alliance airline group. United has also refined…
Neste in SAF deals with Wizz Air and Boeing, and supplies first 100% SAF helicopter flight
Finnish renewable fuels producer Neste is to supply sustainable aviation fuel to Wizz Air, which provides the low-cost carrier the opportunity to purchase 36,000 tonnes of SAF per year over a period of three years to use across its route network in Europe and the UK. The SAF volumes to be purchased are a key part of the airline’s environmental strategy to reduce carbon emissions intensity per passenger km by 25% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Boeing has also reached an agreement with Neste to purchase 5.6 million gallons (21.2m litres) of blended SAF supplied by…
Finnish renewable fuels producer Neste is to supply sustainable aviation fuel to Wizz Air, which provides the low-cost carrier the opportunity to purchase 36,000 tonnes of SAF per year over a period of three years to use across its route network in Europe and the UK. The SAF volumes to be purchased are a key part of the airline’s environmental strategy to reduce carbon emissions intensity per passenger km by 25% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Boeing has also reached an agreement with Neste to purchase 5.6 million gallons (21.2m litres) of blended SAF supplied by…
Topsoe enters SAF JV with Sasol and signs agreement with Steeper Energy on waste-to-fuel technology
Danish decarbonisation technology solutions company Topsoe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa-based global energy and chemicals company Sasol with the intent to establish a 50/50 joint venture to develop sustainable aviation fuel production. The JV aims to build, own and operate ventures producing SAF based on Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch technology and Topsoe’s own relevant SAF technologies. It will produce SAF derived from non-fossil feedstock, utilising green hydrogen, sustainable sources of CO2 and/or biomass. The companies say their unique and complementary technologies offer multiple pathways to SAF production at scale. Topsoe has also signed a global licensing agreement…
Danish decarbonisation technology solutions company Topsoe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa-based global energy and chemicals company Sasol with the intent to establish a 50/50 joint venture to develop sustainable aviation fuel production. The JV aims to build, own and operate ventures producing SAF based on Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch technology and Topsoe’s own relevant SAF technologies. It will produce SAF derived from non-fossil feedstock, utilising green hydrogen, sustainable sources of CO2 and/or biomass. The companies say their unique and complementary technologies offer multiple pathways to SAF production at scale. Topsoe has also signed a global licensing agreement…
APPOINTMENT:
KLM has appointed Zita Schellekens as Senior Vice President for Sustainability & Strategy, effective 1 March 2023. This is a new position on KLM's Executive Committee. Previously, Schellekens spent two and a half years as Sustainability Director at DSM and is also a member of the Royal Schiphol Group's Sustainability Advisory Board. In her new role, Schellekens is responsible for the Transformation and Sustainability teams, founded to further accelerate the company's sustainability efforts. She reports directly to KLM CEO Marjan Rintel.
KLM has appointed Zita Schellekens as Senior Vice President for Sustainability & Strategy, effective 1 March 2023. This is a new position on KLM's Executive Committee. Previously, Schellekens spent two and a half years as Sustainability Director at DSM and is also a member of the Royal Schiphol Group's Sustainability Advisory Board. In her new role, Schellekens is responsible for the Transformation and Sustainability teams, founded to further accelerate the company's sustainability efforts. She reports directly to KLM CEO Marjan Rintel.
Honeywell is leading a European consortium to develop an aerospace-qualified megawatt-class fuel cell propulsion system powered by hydrogen. Project NEWBORN, a European Clean Aviation project, will involve 18 multidisciplinary partners from 10 countries and work will be performed at the Honeywell Technology Solutions R&D centre in Brno, Czech Republic and at other Honeywell and project partner sites across Europe. The final demonstrator will be integrated and tested by Slovene-based Pipistrel Vertical Solutions. Meanwhile, Honeywell has received its first delivery of SAF at its Phoenix Engines campus, which will support development and production testing of APUs and propulsion engines at the site, along with testing of fielded units from Honeywell’s repair and overhaul facility. The HEFA SAF was developed by World Energy using Honeywell’s UOP Ecofining technology.
Honeywell
Honeywell Launches Disruptive Research on Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Aircraft
The US Department of Energy has awarded $118 million in funding for projects, many of them related to SAF, to accelerate domestic biofuel production. The selected projects include pre-pilot, pilot and demonstration projects that will produce renewable fuels from widely available domestic feedstocks and advanced refining technologies. The funded projects align with the renewable fuels goals in the first-ever US National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and also support the US SAF Grand Challenge goal of enabling the production of 3 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2030 and 35 billion gallons annually by 2050. Among the SAF project funding recipients are Algenesis, Captis Aire, Cornstock, Research Triangle Institute, Viridos, LanzaTech, Alder Fuels and the universities of California (Riverside) and Utah.
Energy.gov
U.S. Department of Energy Awards $118 Million to Accelerate Domestic Biofuel Production
DOE has awarded $118 million in funding for 17 projects to accelerate the production of sustainable biofuels for America’s transportation and manufacturing needs.