The use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is a growing trend in the aviation industry. Ever since the development of the Wright Flyer, most airplanes have used petroleum-based fuel. Some airplanes use aviation gasoline, whereas others use a kerosene fuel like Jet A or Jet A1. Regardless, most airplanes rely on petroleum-based fuel for propulsion. In recent years, however, SAFs have become a popular alternative to these traditional fuel types.
Overview of SAFs
SAFs are alternative fuels that are produced using sustainable materials, such as agricultural residues, corn, grains, forestry waste, waste oils, etc. They are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Traditional fuels are produced using petroleum or petroleum-based products. Petroleum, though, is a finite resource. More importantly perhaps, petroleum releases greenhouse gases when burned. SAFs minimize greenhouse gases by leveraging renewable, non-petroleum materials as fuel.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), up to 1 billion tons of biomass is available for sustainable collection each year. That’s enough biomass to produce 50 to 60 billion gallons of biofuels like SAFs.
Benefits of SAFs
What are some of the benefits of SAFs exactly? As previously mentioned, they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The DOE says that pure, 100% SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 94% compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels.
Many SAFs are created using waste. Wood byproducts and agricultural waste, for instance, can often be converted into SAFs. Rather than sending this waste to a landfill, it can be used to produce SAFs.
Another benefit of SAFs is that they don’t require equipment modifications or upgrades. They are classified as “drop-in” fuels. Like with other drop-in fuels, airplanes can use them without undergoing extensive equipment modifications or upgrades.
SAFs are high performance. Some people assume that because they are made with sustainable materials, SAFs offer poorer combustion and performance than traditional petroleum-based fuels, but this isn’t the case. They are rigorously tested to meet performance and safety standards.
While they offer many benefits, however, SAFs typically cost more than conventional fuels. Depending on the specific type, some SAFs can cost three to four times as much as conventional fuels. Nonetheless, advancements in production methods may bring down the cost of SAFs.
In Conclusion
SAFs offer an alternative fuel type for airplanes. They are characterized by their renewable, sustainable makeup. While most types of fuel are made of petroleum, SAFs are made of biomass, which is renewable and sustainable.
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