Study: Only 10 of 77 Airlines Pushing for SAF Adoption
Big oil companies are not investing in green fuels such as e-kerosene, which is where the problem partly lies.
Many airlines are using biofuels that are not sustainable or are entirely using the wrong SAF.
87% of airlines are not building on their efforts in the transition to sustainable fuels, notes a study by Transport & Environment (T&E), Europe's leading advocate for clean transport and energy.
Only 10 out of 77 airlines assessed are doing their part to facilitate the transition to sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). The top performers are Air France-KLM, United Airlines, and Norwegian, which have invested in e-kerosene, a green fuel made from renewable electricity, and other biofuels made from waste products.
Even if some airlines are using SAF, they do not have the right mix or are using the wrong one altogether. E-kerosene is considered the most sustainable and scalable option, but they are resorting to biofuels made from corn or soy, which are not sustainable and cannot be used for large-scale production.
SAFs are important because they reduce the aviation industry's carbon emissions. They can replace traditional jet fuel, a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, and play a constructive role in meeting climate goals.
Large oil companies such as Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil are not investing more in SAF production, and most of the SAF they produce are bio-based fuels, which are less sustainable. On the other hand, small companies and start-ups are investing in e-kerosene production, but they lack the financial resources to scale up, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for green fuels in the aviation industry.
The study calls for more regulations and a tougher stance on oil companies refusing to stop using fossil fuels. The European Union should support airlines taking real actions through incentives and other financial backing.
Francesco Catte, SAF manager at T&E, says: "Too few airlines are committing to truly sustainable fuels. The majority are either buying the wrong types of fuels or, worse still, no SAF at all. Airlines have to put their fist on the table to change this. They need to send the right signal to fuel suppliers that what is being sold to them will not make their flights green. Otherwise, they can wave goodbye to their net-zero goals."
To learn more about the study, click here.
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Source: T&E
