UPM-Biofore-Magazine-2-2019

THE POTENTIAL of bio-jet fuels is highlighted by the fact that they currently account for only a mere 0.01% of all jet fuel consumed.

fuels are typically only 20% of those generated by fossil-based jet fuel. The potential of bio-jet fuels is further highlighted by the fact that they currently account for only a mere 0.01% of all jet fuel consumed. The market leader in bio-jet fuels, SkyNRG, reports that it has supplied bio-jet fuel to over 30 airlines for more than 150,000 flights. SkyNRG’s bio- jet fuel is manufactured from used cooking fats, and it can be mixed with fossil-based jet fuel. Typically, bio-jet fuel only makes up a small percentage of the fuel mixture, with the rest being fossil-based fuel. The reason for this is that bio-jet fuel is currently over three times more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel. In practice, a price gap so huge means that bio-jet fuel will not be widely adopted without public support. More expensive flight tickets? Regardless of its apparent benefits, increasing the use of bio-jet fuel is not a straightforward option. The aviation sector employs almost 66 million people. The annual value of its services and products is USD 2.7 trillion. In value terms, one third of globally

Researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg doubt that the offsetting agreements will achieve their objectives. “According to our analysis, transferring the emissions reductions of Sweden’s other sectors to the aviation sector within the framework of the EU’s emissions trading and CORSIA can only reduce carbon emissions by 0.8% a year, which is significantly lower than what is required by the two-degree goal,” explains Assistant Professor Jörgen Larsson . Great hopes for renewable fuels More powerful engines, emissions reduction schemes and operational optimisation are estimated to reduce aviation emissions by 2–3% annually. The reduction is sizeable, yet not nearly sufficient to stop the growth of emissions, let alone reduce them. As 99% of flight emissions and 50% of airfield emissions are caused by the combustion of jet fuel, and alternatives such as hydrogen-driven and electric planes are still in their infancy, the most immediate and effective way to reduce aviation emissions is the use of biofuels. The emissions of sustainable aviation

traded goods are transported by air. It is difficult for politicians to increase the cost of flying by raising passenger and fuel taxes or by obligating airlines to use bio-jet fuel — especially now as the rate of bankruptcy amongst airlines is higher than ever before due to the investment backlog and the high price of jet fuel, which has continued to climb for almost four years consecutively. Many countries charge a passenger tax, but few countries tax jet fuel on domestic flights. An international jet fuel tax has been proposed, but no firm decisions have been made and none

HOW TO TRAVEL MORE ECOLOGICALLY:

Consider whether there are lower-emission options for your flight. Choose an airline that has a modern fleet. Favour direct routes and fly towards the destination right from the start. Avoid large, crowded airports. Make use of public transport. Offset your flight emissions and support the use of bio-jet fuels.

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“It is difficult to achieve the targets for renewable bio-jet fuel without public support measures, especially when governments support other transport modes directly and fossil fuels are backed up by deep-rooted structural support.” – Maarten van Dijk

Sources: Finnair, KLM

18 | UPM BIOFORE BEYOND FOSSILS