WestJet endorses widescale Canadian production of sustainable aviation fuel

Chief Executive Officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech attends 24th World Petroleum Congress and addresses opportunity for a collective effort to achieve aviation industry's net-zero target of 2050

WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech, this week at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, addressed the airline's ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the vital role sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plays in the future of decarbonizing aviation. With no current technological alternative for large commercial aircraft propulsion, airline reliance on sustainable jet fuel will be foundational to the decarbonization of the aviation industry. With its abundant space to grow feedstock, a large oil and gas industry and robust federal sustainability goals, Canada holds the necessities to facilitate the large-scale production of SAF.

"Air travel is essential to Canadians and critical to the nation's economy; with the right regulatory environment and collaborative efforts of producers and airlines, Canada has an enormous opportunity to further its global leadership in energy sustainability through SAF production," said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer. "The time is now for a regulatory framework to create a competitive investment climate for sustainable aviation fuel production, right here in Canada, that keeps air travel affordable and accessible."

No Stone Unturned in Quest for Net Zero

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reemphasized that every drop of fuel avoided counts in the aviation industry’s quest to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 with the latest result from the IATA Fuel Efficiency Gap Analysis (FEGA). 

LOT Polish Airlines (LOT) is one of the airlines to undertake the FEGA, which identified the potential to shave its annual fuel consumption by several percent. That equates to an annual reduction by tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon from LOT’s operations.

“Every drop counts. Since its inception in 2005, FEGA has helped airlines identify cumulative savings of 15.2 million tonnes of carbon by cutting fuel consumption by 4.76 million tonnes. LOT is the latest example of an airline exploring all opportunities to achieve every incremental efficiency possible in fuel consumption. That’s good for the environment and for the bottom line,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.

On average, FEGA has identified fuel savings of 4.4% per airline audited. If fully realized across all audited airlines, these savings, which stem primarily from flight operations and dispatch, equate to removing 3.4 million fuel-powered cars from the road. 

The FEGA team analyzed LOT’s operations against industry benchmarks in flight dispatch, ground operations, and flight operations to identify fuel savings potential. The most significant ones were identified in flight planning, emission reduction through implementation of aviation procedures and refueling operations.

United signs agreement to buy up to 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel from Cemvita

Cemvita Corporation announced an offtake arrangement with United Airlines for up to 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Cemvita’s first full-scale SAF plant. Under the agreement, signed by Cemvita and United Airlines, Cemvita will supply United Airlines up to 50 million gallons annually for 20 years of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from CO2.

“Since our initial investment last year, Cemvita has made outstanding progress, including opening their new pilot plant – an important step towards producing sustainable aviation fuel,” said United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen. “United is the global aviation leader in SAF production investment, but we face a real shortage of available fuel and producers. Cemvita’s technology represents a path forward for a potentially significant supply of SAF and it’s our hope that this offtake agreement for up to one billion gallons is just the beginning of our collaboration.”

Game Changing Technologies: Commercialized SAF is currently made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste. Cemvita's technology has the potential to provide more reliable feedstock production with minimal land, water, and electricity needs. Furthermore, the output of eCO2 plants has the potential to be carbon-negative and Cemvita is aiming to be cost competitive with existing crop based HEFA feedstocks and fuels, which is a crucial factor for the successful adoption of any new biomanufacturing process.

Airbus partners with DG Fuels to foster sustainable aviation fuel production in the United States

This partnership will support the scaling of a promising technology to produce sustainable aviation fuels from cellulosic waste and residues.

Airbus has become a strategic partner with DG Fuels, LLC (“DGF”), an emerging leader in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

"Sustainable aviation fuels play a crucial role in enabling aviation's decarbonisation roadmap. We are committed to supporting all efforts that contribute to making them available at scale around the globe," said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. "The partnership with DG Fuels supports the emergence of a new technological pathway allowing for the production of SAFs from a broader range of waste and residue sources, first in the U.S with a potential for large-scale production worldwide."

DGF’s fuel production system is based entirely on cellulosic waste products, such as wood waste from the logging industry, and renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power.

DGF’s plant aims to have an initial production capacity of 120 million US gallons (454 million litres) of SAF per year on average, which could save approximately 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually from 2026.

"The DGF team is excited to have finalised this SAF partnership with Airbus," commented Michael Darcy, Chairman and CEO at DG Fuels, "and we look forward to working together to accelerate the initial SAF facility in Louisiana and the subsequent scale up at various locations in the United States and beyond.”

The partnership with Airbus supports DG Fuels’ goal of launching the equity process and reaching a final investment decision (FID) on building DG Fuels’ first SAF plant in the United States. The decision would be expected by early 2024. In this context, Airbus and DGF have agreed for a portion of the production of the first plant to benefit Airbus’ customers.

United's sustainable flight fund grows to nearly $200 million and adds strategic partners....

In just five months, the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund SM increased in size to nearly $200 million and welcomes American Express Global Business Travel, Aramco Ventures, Aviation Capital Group, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Groupe ADP, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue Ventures

Fund was launched in February to rally businesses and consumers to support the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) - more than 60,000 customers have contributed

The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund – a way for companies and consumers to come together and increase the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through the support of start-ups - has increased its investment power to nearly $200 million and added eight new corporate partners, five months after its initial launch.

United plane fueled with SAF.

American Express Global Business Travel, Aramco Ventures, Aviation Capital Group, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Groupe ADP, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Ventures, will join inaugural fund partners Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell.

United customers also have the option to contribute to supplement the airline's investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM when they book flights. Since the fund launched, more than 60,000 United customers have contributed a total of more than $200,000.

Cathay Pacific completes its first overseas refuel of Sustainable Aviation Fuel on commercial flights

Cathay Pacific is committed to increasing its use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions goal

The Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is continuing to make progress towards achieving its goal of using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for 10% of its total fuel use by 2030 by uplifting SAF onto its commercial flights for the very first time outside its Hong Kong hub.

Blended and supplied by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, this batch of SAF was refuelled at Singapore Changi Airport onto four Cathay Pacific cargo flights – CX2076 to Hong Kong on 7, 14 and 28 June, and CX2074 to Penang on 30 June. This follows the use of blended SAF uplifted at Hong Kong International Airport onto selected flights last year, and on the delivery flights for its new Airbus A350 from Europe over the past six years.

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “This is an important milestone for Cathay Pacific and our ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As an international airline, we have a leading role to play in helping the aviation industry to decarbonise and we are constantly exploring solutions and advocating for extensive collaboration with many stakeholders to combat climate change.

United Airlines grows the carrier's electric battery portfolio with an investment in EPS

Electric Power Systems (EPS) modules are a technology that could be compatible with and used in support of United's future decarbonizing investments

United is targeting EPS modules for potential use in airline's current ground operations, while eyeing an all-electric flight academy in the future

This week, the U.S. mega-carrier United Airlines confirmed an investment in Electric Power Systems, a company producing battery technology that can potentially be used for a broad suite of aerospace applications. Rather than producing battery cells, the company's compatible module technology can be adapted to support a variety of batteries, optimizing performance and safety. The versatility of the technology could allow United to consider EPS's modules for a number of near-term applications, and as part of its longer-term operations that support decarbonization. This is United's second investment in electric battery technology, after sodium-ion battery-maker Natron.

"Typically, we've had a clear vision of how to integrate sustainability investments into our operations. What makes EPS's technology different and exciting is the scope of operational possibilities where we have the option to deploy it today and, in the future, to help electrify and decarbonize our operations," said United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen. "United's best roadmap to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, without relying on traditional carbon offsets, is by using every tool at our disposal – that includes the potential use of EPS's impressive portfolio of electric aircraft powertrain solutions, including high-performance power electronics, and energy storage systems."

Date set for first long-haul flight to operate with 100% sustainable aviation fuel

Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce this week confirmed the successful Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. The test marks a key milestone in the project which will see the world's first 100% SAF flight travel across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York JFK on a Boeing 787, set to take off on November 28, 2023.

Virgin Atlantic led consortium confirms the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight across the Atlantic will fly on November 28, 2023, departing from London-Heathrow to NYC's John F. Kennedy International Airport, pending further regulatory approvals and testing

SAF blend of 88% HEFA and 12% aromatics completes successful ground test on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, a key milestone in approvals process

Fuel supplier announced as Air bp and Virent, who will supply the 60 tonnes of SAF required for project

In addition to the test, fuel suppliers Air bp and Virent have been announced to supply the 60 tonnes of SAF to be used in the world first, supporting consortium research, testing and the flight itself. The SAF will be produced through the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway as well as synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK) SAF at an 88% and 12% blend ratio.

Virgin Atlantic is committed to finding more sustainable ways to fly on our mission to Net Zero 2050. Already operating one of the most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic, this flight builds on the airline's 15-year track record for leading on SAF. Demonstrating that through radical collaboration, industry can deliver 100% SAF in today's engine, airframes and fuel infrastructure for long haul flight.

SAF typically delivers CO2 life cycle emissions savings of more than 70% whilst performing like traditional jet fuel. SAF has a fundamental role to play in aviation's decarbonization and pathway to Net Zero 2050. Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. The one-off Virgin Atlantic flight in November will demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for fossil fuel today.

The realization of the 100% SAF transatlantic flight taking to the skies is a challenging task requiring cross industry collaboration and dedicated project teams working on the research, testing and operations to make it happen. The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, joint funded by the UK Department for Transport, includes Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. The successful bench engine test is a key milestone, however further permissions and safety approvals are required for the flight to take off in November.