The two-day event, hosted at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, brought together various stakeholders in the field of SAF – government representatives, airlines, NGOs and producers. The aim was to further foster exchange in the community – but also to collect information on the progress in the field to quantify the development.
Various initiatives, studies and projects presented their achievements and perspectives on biofuels from various sources, increasingly also from waste. ICAO Environment Director Jane Hupe was confident that SAF deployment was picking up speed. Global Alliance Powerfuels was there to highlight the potentials of powerfuels in aviation. They offer huge benefits as a complement to biogenic SAF, as they are less constrained in available quantities and use less land and water. In terms of cost, they can soon become an alternative to some biofuels. Beyond, lower particle emissions bring advantages in local air quality and climate effect. These aspects become increasingly important as other sectors beyond aviation are looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
From a sustainability point of view, necessary measures are in place. The non-profit ISCC emphasised that they are prepared to cover powerfuels certification, as soon as appropriate regulation is in place. The study “Carbon Neutral Aviation with current engine technology - The take of of synthetic kerosene production in the Netherlands” was presented, which was commissioned by, amongst others, KLM and Tata Steel. The authors show that even domestic production in the Netherlands could be a feasible option, using the large off-shore wind parks in the region and (as an interim solution) carbon emissions from Tata’s steel mill to supply 50% of KLM’s Schiphol hub.
Following this workshop, ICAO will expand their work on feasibility studies and continue the stocktaking process with another seminar next year. The Global Alliance Powerfuels will continue the international discussion on SAF, to contribute to the aviation sector reaching its goal of climate-neutral growth from 2020. Together with its members, it is looking for partners to implement pre-industrial projects and demonstrate the feasibility of competitive powerfuels in aviation and other sectors.
