Government and industry leaders agree that achieving sustainability goals of net zero by 2050 is vital for aviation and that it would not be able to get there without widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Speaking during a forum—Accelerating Sustainable Aviation and Targeting True Zero—on the opening day of the 2022 Farnborough Airshow, Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East called a focus on sustainable aviation “an absolute necessity and a commercial imperative” but added it also represents an opportunity. “That is the approach we are taking,” he said.
Jim Hileman, chief scientific advisor for environment and energy for the FAA, noted that while 2050 “seems like a long time from now, it's not.” Building new infrastructure for decarbonization is a long undertaking. A more likely route will be to leverage today’s infrastructure and refining capabilities with SAF. "We have tremendous capability of producing biomass. We also have tremendous capability of using biofuels,” he said. “If we want to get to net zero, that is the answer.”
International Air Transport Association chief Willie Walsh echoed sentiments about a need to accelerate ambitions on sustainability and stressed that international airlines are committed to achieving goals and to a “large degree” will achieve that through SAF. However, he is encouraged that despite the pandemic-related crises the industry has undergone, "the focus on the environment remains front and center," he said. "I think we should be optimistic.”
Walsh also emphasized a need to incentivize SAF production. “I get a little bit angry when I hear people saying, ‘we've got to convince the industry to move,’ he said. "In fact, what we've been saying is we need more. We need you to produce more. We will use the fuel if you produce it.”
Governments should offer incentives for a transition, he said. “I think with the right government support and policy frameworks in place, then we will see accelerating use of sustainable.”
Lauren Riley, chief sustainability officer and managing director of global environmental affairs for United Airlines, added, “I agree one hundred percent here. We do not have [enough]. We will take as much as there is. So we need policy to step in and drive the supply.” She also warned that while international agreements exist, “cracks” are starting to appear with different regions coming up with their own policies surrounding emissions reduction. If that continues, it would become a significant burden on operators.
Another area where the leaders agreed centers on the pricing of SAF. The cost can come down, but for many reasons surrounding manufacturing and transportation, it will always be more expensive, Hileman said, and that will translate into higher costs for end customers.
Walsh further added, though, that airlines are willing to pay the extra cost.
Meanwhile, the panel agreed that no one single answer to net zero exists and it will require multiple solutions such as hydrogen and electric. But Hileman cautioned that while hydrogen remains a solution, it will need considerable infrastructure to play a major role. East, who gave a glimpse into Rolls-Royce’s plans for its direct air capture, added that hydrogen is a longer-term prospect when considering its use in gas turbine engines, which would be necessary for its success in airliners.
The World Economic Forum has broad support for these initiatives, said Laia Barbara, the Forum's community lead for sustainable aviation. She stressed the need for intermediate goals to demonstrate that progress is being made.
