Airlines, industry working together to drive sustainable jet fuel growth in Canada

CALCULATE –

A new organization that aims to promote Canada’s development of sustainable aviation fuels, a technology advocate says is the aviation industry’s best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Canadian Council on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF) was formed Wednesday by a consortium of 60 airlines operating in Canada, both domestically (Air Canada, WestJet Airlines Ltd) and owned overseas (British Airways, Cathay Pacific).

Group members also include airports, research institutions, jet manufacturers and refiners.

Geoff Tauvette, chief executive officer of C-SAF, said the organization’s mission is to develop goals and strategies for the sustainable aviation fuels industry made in Canada.

“There is very little (sustainable aviation fuel) used in Canada right now, not even a significant amount is produced today in Canada,” says Tauvette.

“But there’s a global race going on, and we want to put the right processes in place and get them up and running to make sure we get a piece of the pie.”

Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF as it’s called in the industry, is a non-petroleum jet fuel made from renewable materials. The feedstock could be anything from corn sugar to used cooking oil to organic municipal waste or even algae.

While SAF does not completely eliminate emissions from aircraft, it is a lower carbon solution that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. It is also a “drop-in” fuel, which means it requires no changes to the aircraft or any special infrastructure at airports.

That makes it very attractive for the global aviation industry, which is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. SAF is something that can be done now, while solutions Other technologies – such as hydrogen or electric powered airplanes – are still far off in the future.

“Aviation will be one of the hardest industries to decarbonise,” says Tauvette. “We don’t have many options on the table today to be able to do so.”

Sustainable aviation fuels are still a nascent industry, with only about 20 million gallons produced and used globally last year.

The challenge is huge with the US Department of Energy saying global demand for jet fuel is expected to grow to 230 billion by 2050, from 106 billion gallons in 2019.

However, the global aviation industry has set a target to produce 2.5 billion gallons of SAF by 2025. Tauvette said Canada should want to be a part of that, in part because of its substantial agricultural resources. of the country means it has access to a potentially large supply. input materials.

However, SAF is significantly more expensive than traditional jet fuel. In order for SAF to compete with traditional jet fuel, the industry will likely require government support, Tauvette said. (For example, in California, SAF tax credits are available under the state’s low-carbon fuel standard.)

“Certainly since this is a new market that we’re trying to create, maybe it’s going to need some momentum,” Tauvette said.

Marion Town, Vancouver Airport Authority’s climate and environment director, said the airport is delighted to be part of the newly created C-SAF.

She said the airport has been working on ways to develop a sustainable supply of aviation fuel produced in BC. The BC government has indicated it will require the aviation industry to gradually reduce the carbon footprint of its fuels, as part of the province’s clean fuel standards.

Town said she believes SAF has “huge potential” for BC and Canada as a whole, as long as the industry can work alongside the government to develop a strategy to make it work. cost side.

“What we have right now in Canada is the ability to bring this ecosystem together and get the policy levers so that costs will come down,” Town said.

“It’s not an expense that will largely be borne by the purchaser of the flight.”

This Canadian Press report was first published on February 23, 2022.