UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Using 100% SAF could reduce climate-warming effect of commercial aircraft contrails
19/6/2024
Results from what is claimed to be the world’s first in-flight study of the impact of using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both engines of a commercial aircraft show a reduction in soot particles and formation of contrail (condensation trail) ice crystals, compared to using conventional kerosene fuel.
Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and SAF producer Neste collaborated in the ECLIF3 (Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels) study. It measured the impact of 100% SAF use on emissions from both Rolls-Royce Trent XWB turbofan jet engines of an Airbus A350, which during the test was followed by a DLR chase plane.
The number of ice crystals per mass of unblended SAF consumed were found to be 56% less than a reference Jet A-1 fuel, which could significantly reduce the climate-warming effect of condensation trails – also known as contrails, according to the report.
Global climate model simulations, conducted by DLR, were used to estimate the change in the energy balance in Earth’s atmosphere – also known as radiative forcing – by contrails. The impact of contrails was estimated to be reduced by at least 26% in the ECLIF3 test compared to the reference fuel.
These results suggest that using SAF could significantly reduce the climate impact of aviation in the short term by reducing non-CO2 effects such as contrails, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions when compared to using fossil jet fuel, says the study.
‘The results from the ECLIF3 study confirm a significantly lower climate impact when using 100% SAF due to the lack of aromatics in Neste’s SAF [that was] used, and provide additional scientific data to support the use of SAF at higher concentrations than the currently approved 50%,’ comments Alexander Kueper, Vice President Renewable Aviation Business at Neste.
‘We already knew that sustainable aviation fuels could reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. Thanks to the ECLIF studies, we now know that SAF can also reduce soot emissions and ice particulate formation that we see as contrails,’ adds Mark Bentall, Head of Research & Technology Programme, Airbus.
International airline SAF first in Singapore
Meanwhile, Neste reports that it is now supplying SAF to the airline Emirates for flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport, making Emirates the first international visiting carrier using SAF supplied at the airport from Neste’s Singapore refinery.
The deal ‘marks the first step forward in our SAF adoption in Asia, a region that is primed to become a leading supplier of SAF, which continues to be in short supply,’ commented Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer at Emirates.
SAF plant planned at US airport location
In other news, International Airport Review reports that SkyClean US Energy is signing a land lease agreement with Pittsburgh International Airport with a view to building a SAF production facility there. Once complete, it could be the first major airport in the US to have SAF production on-site.
The proposed facility is envisaged as being among the largest in the US, capable of producing 25mn gallons of unblended SAF annually, with future production rising up to 75mn gallons – enough to supply all of the airport’s fuelling needs, as well as other airports’ in the Midwest and Northeast US.
