Last week marked a significant milestone in the aviation industry as the world witnessed the first transatlantic flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that departed from London Heathrow and landed in New York JFK.
Dubbed Flight100, this Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 showcased the potential of SAF for long-haul flights, paving the way for the use of this sustainable alternative to traditional jet fuel and contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation industry.
The successful transatlantic flight was the result of over a year of collaboration among a consortium led by Virgin Atlantic, which included the University of Sheffield, Imperial College London, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BP, and other key players. The project was partially funded by the UK’s Department of Transport.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield and Imperial College London conducted tests to assess SAF, confirming that it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 70% compared to traditional jet fuel. The flight was also monitored by Prof Mohamed Pourkashanian, head of the University of Sheffield Energy Institute and Sheffield’s lead. Here are some excerpts from our conversation:
What is SAF made of?
SAF is an advanced fuel made from renewable, waste, or recycled sources, offering emissions savings of up to 70% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel. The SAF used on Flight100 was a blend of 88% HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) from AirBP and 12% SAK (synthetic aromatic kerosene) from Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corp.
What kind of carbon emissions were produced during this test flight?
While the total carbon emissions for the flight are still under investigation, the results will be published soon by another member of the consortium.
These promising findings highlight the potential of SAF and its role in the mission to decarbonize the aviation industry. As seen in the Flight100 demonstration, SAF can provide significant environmental benefits, making it a viable sustainable alternative for aviation. Additionally, the successful use of SAF on a long-haul flight sets the stage for further exploration of its potential in aviation, particularly for use in full SAF blends and its impact on carbon emissions. The aviation industry’s collaboration with oil companies and government agencies is crucial to advance the scale-up of SAF and address the environmental challenges faced by the sector.
Although the production cost of SAF may currently surpass that of conventional jet fuel, advances in technology and the implementation of carbon pricing systems or subsidies could lead to cost reductions, making SAF a competitive option in the aviation industry. Furthermore, government policies advocating for a percentage of SAF use by 2030, along with opportunities for oil companies to co-process SAF, demonstrate the collective efforts being made to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels.
While the aviation sector faces unique challenges, such as the electrification and hydrogen fuel cells being explored for road transport, manufacturers like Airbus have also expressed interest in SAF as a decarbonization solution for in-service fleets and future aircraft. With the growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact, SAF presents a promising avenue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry.
