Authors: Wolfgang Grimme
Publication Date: 13 August 2024
Category: SAF
Article Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/10/3/218
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10030218
Abstract (Official): The aviation industry is challenged to reduce its climate impact. The introduction of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is, among other policy instruments such as the European Emissions Trading Scheme, an option favored by policymakers in Europe to achieve this objective. These fuels feature substantially reduced carbon life-cycle emissions in comparison to fossil fuels. In Europe, a mandatory quota for the use of sustainable fuels will most likely be introduced, starting in the year 2025. The introduction of a blending mandate by governments and the European Commission is associated with a range of challenges. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the economics of climate change mitigation in aviation and the role SAFs can play. The economic issues associated with the introduction of SAFs are analyzed, with a particular focus on the European Commission’s proposal for a blending mandate. Several suggestions for improvement are discussed. Furthermore, alternatives to SAFs are presented and evaluated.
GAT Editor’s Comments:
– A mandatory quota for the use of SAFs may be introduced by 2025
– The quota will likely involve a mandate by various European governments and the European Commission to blend traditional fuels with SAFs
– Numerous technical and economic challenges need to be overcome to meet a potential mandate including: SAF availability, economic considerations for airlines
– Different economic systems to support the introduction of SAFs are explored including: book-and-claim (blended quota approach), use of aviation-related state revenue to subsidize SAF introduction
– Enhancements in aircraft design and propulsion technologies are unlikely to advance quickly enough given the rate of increase in air travel; H2 while promising also has many drawbacks with no obvious solutions
– Author proposes negative emissions as a potential SAF alternative: airlines using fossil fuels would be required to remove from the atmosphere the equivalent amount of carbon produced, potentially through carbon capture and storage
