Your Information Hub Tracking the Path to Carbon Free Aviation
A peaceful and prosperous planet needs be a physically connected planet and the aviation industry is a vital to making that connection possible. Carbon Free Aviation layouts out the challenges and tracks the development of the solutions which will allow us to continue to live in a connected planet, sustainably.
With strong demand for SAF established, the availability of feedstocks is getting critical
8 Apr 2022
S&P Global is reporting that the need for feedstocks to product SAF is becoming the most critical issue now that demand has been established. In Europe, the supply of used cooking oil, currently the most common feedback for SAF, has already been exhausted. There is now a race on to develop the capacity to make SAF from more plentiful feedstocks.
Joby becomes the first US-based eVTOL company to list on the NYSE
11 Aug 2021
Joby Aviation started trading on the New York Stock Exchange today via a SPAC deal which values the company at $4.5 billion, with $1.6 billion cash on hand – as of 31 March 2021. The company says it hopes the proceeds of this transaction will finance Juby through initial commercial operations.
Heathrow to become the first major UK airport incorporate SAF
3 June 2021
SAF producer Neste, and fuel supplier Vitol, are working with Heathrow to ensure that SAF is available at the airport. The timing of this announcement is to coincide with the UK hosting the G7 Summit 11-13 June.
Neste produces SAF primarily from Used Cooking Oil and the resulting fuel reduces the lifecycle CO2 emissions by 80%, as compared to fossil aviation fuel.
SAF is a “drop in” fuel that can be used up to a maximum blend of 50% with fossil fuel without the need to modify the fuel transport or storage equipment, nor the aircraft engines that will burn the fuel. It will be blended upstream by Vitol.
It is not clear who will use this fuel nor who will pay the cost difference of SAF, which is approximately twice as expensive as fossil fuel kerosene.
The day it all changed for Big Oil: Exxon, Shell and Chevron all see external forces impose decarbonization on their businesses
26 May 2021
In a landmark day for Big Oil; the management of three oil majors have been deemed to be moving too slowly to decarbonize their businesses. Consequently, external forces have intervened.
For Exxon, it was a tiny pro-climate activist hedge fund that won a fight with Exxon’s management to elect two members to the board of directors. The new board members will push Exxon to align its business strategy with a carbon free future. Exxon spent millions on a failed PR campaign to block the hedge fund, called Engine No. 1, who holds just $50M of Exxon’s $250B market cap. But importantly, the had the backing of several large institutional investors, including Blackrock and the State pension funds from California and New York.
Exxon’s stock actually rose 1.2% on the news.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands, a court ruled that Shell must comply with the commitments in the Paris Agreement and reduce its carbon emissions by 45% of their 2019 level, by 2030. This is the first case of this kind, where a court has ruled that a private company must comply with an international treaty that supersedes national law. While Shell will appeal the decision in a higher court, it nevertheless comes as a huge wake up call to companies that they need to get out in front on carbon reduction.
In the context of the day, Chevron only suffered a minor set back. Shareholders voted to reduce “Scope 3” emissions – emissions caused by the extraction, refining and transportation of its products. However, no actual target was set for the reductions and a proposal to write a report on the business impact of a net zero 2050 scenario was rejected, leaving Chevron safe to continue its outdated strategic focus on fossil fuels.
All three cases serve as a warning to companies and industries that are major emitters of carbon. It is better to be at the vanguard of decarbonizing your industry, than wait until such change in forced upon you. This is especially true of industries which operate large capital intensive assets with long economic lifespans. Such as refineries, or aircraft.
US Legislation proposed to give a minimum $1.50 per gallon tax credit for the use of SAF
20 May 2021
The Sustainable Skies Act was introduced to the US House of Congress by three Democratic House Members on 20 May. This legislation would provide a $1.5o per gallon tax credit to airlines for using SAF that reduces carbon emissions by 50%. A further 1 cent per gallon tax credit would be added for each percent point reduction in carbon emissions above 50%. Given that SAF typically reduces carbon emissions by 80% verses fossil foils, this would equate to a $1.80 tax credit for airlines for each gallon of SAF they use in their operations.
US Airlines have paid an average of about $180 per gallon of jet fuel over the last 5 years. Considering SAF manufactured from used cooking oil is currently approximately twice the cost of fossil jet fuel and emits 80% less carbon dioxide, this legislation would eliminate the cost difference of SAF.
Pending the passing of this legislation, the race is on to manufacture more SAF.
The full proposed text of the Sustainable Skies Act can be read here.
Glenncore CEO warns China May dominate EV production through its control of cobalt
12 May 2021
Speaking at the Financial Time’s Future of the Car Summit, Ivan Glasenbery, Glencore CEO, warned it would be unwise for US and European car makers to assume that cobalt will be available. China controls much of the world’s cobalt supplies, a metal that is crucial in the production of long range batteries for EV. The same technologies that is planned to be used in electric aircraft.
There is a scenario where China restricts access to this supply, seeking instead to sell completed EV’s to the West. Over half the world’s cobalt currently comes from the Congo and Chinese companies control about 40% of that supply.
The Guardian/Greenpeace investigation questions REDD+ Offset Schemes
4 May 2021
A joint investigation by The Guardian Newspaper in the UK and Unearthered, Green Peace’s Investigative journalism arm is questioning the true carbon offsetting credentials of several carbon offsetting projects used by some airlines to reduce the net carbon emissions of their business. All of these projects were accredited by Verra, who runs the Verified Carbon Standard program, the world’s most widely used voluntary carbon offsetting verification scheme. This story highlights the difficult public relations issues than can arise, even for well meaning airlines, using the best-in-class experts to reduce their net carbon emissions.
Ryanair commit to using 12.5% SAF Across its network by 2030
29 April 2021
Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline has announced that it will power its fleet with a blend of 12.5% SAF by 2030. This decision by Ryanair creates demand for well over 100 million gallons of SAF, a number which could be far higher – depending on Ryanair’s growth rate between now and 2030.
Ryanair has also announced that is donating 1.5M Euros to launch the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Center with Trinity College, in Dublin Ireland.
This is hugely positive news for the path to Carbon Free Aviation and for the SAF industry. However, given that SAF is currently 2-4 times more expensive than traditional jet fuel, and Ryanair’s annual fuel cost pre-Covid was nearly 3B Euros, at current SAF prices, this commits Ryanair to somewhere in the region of 2B Euros of additional fuel costs. In that context the 1.5M Euro investment in SAF technology seems quite small.
You can read more about this story in Ryanair’s press release here.
Vista Jet the private jet operator has pledged to became a carbon neutral business by 2025
27 April 2021
Vista Jet owns and operators a fleet 73 executive jets which it rents on a hourly basis to its clients. This commitment puts them 25 years ahead of similar commitments by large network airlines. And, it shows how the less price-sensitive top end of the market can be an important driver of new technologies. Vista Jet plans to meet this commitment through a mixture of carbon offsetting project which it offers through South Pole. And its SAF partner SkyNRG.
Vista Jet’s model will allow customers to pay the cost delta for the SAF that is needed to fuel their flight. This fuel is then purchased and used to fuel a flight in an airport where SAF is physically available. Therefore, the model simulates demand for SAF, lowering it’s price (currently 2-4x traditional jet fuel) while also eliminating the logistical impossibility of having SAF available at each airport from which Vista Jet operates.
According to it’s own website, as of the beginning of 2021 80% of Vista Jet’s clients were already voluntarily choosing to offset the carbon emissions from their flights. Vista Jet’s new initiative will close that gap to 100% of all carbon emitted by all of its business operations.
You can read more how Vista Jet will transform their business to carbon neutral in here.
IAG commits to powering its fleet with 10% SAF by 2030
22 April 2021
IAG, the parent company of British Airway and Iberian Airlines has today announced that it will power its entire fleet with a 10% blend of SAF by 2030.
This commitment by IAG adds demand for at least 1 million tons of SAF per year by 2030, potentially much more – depending on the growth of IAG’s airlines over the years to 2030. It is a clear signal to SAF producers and investors in the sector that demand for SAF is assured. And puts more pressure on the capacity to produce the fuel.
IAG itself has pledged to invest $400m in the development of SAF over the next 20 years and has partnered with Velocys and LanzaJet to make this happen.
SkyNRG has become the first supplier of SAF to receive CORSIA certification
18 April 2021
In a major step forward on the journey to carbon free aviation, SkyNRG has become the first SAF producer to receive CORSIA certification.
In practical terms this means that airlines can now count SkyNRG SAF towards their CO2 emission reductions. Previously, under the CORSIA program, the only method for airlines to reduce the carbon footprint of the fuel they consumed was through the use of carbon offsets. While carbon offsets are a valuable tool in the journey to carbon free aviation, the scheme has many critiques to question the validity of the carbon offset projects, and the relatively low cost of reducing net carbon emissions, as compared to the cost of using a non-fossil fuel.
Carbon Free Aviation fuel pioneer Universal Hydrogen announces Series A funding of $20.5M
22 April 2021
Universal Hydrogen, a highly ambitious start-up focused on the development of hydrogen fueled aircraft and the infrastructure required to make the fuel a viable alternative to traditional jet fuel, has just announced it has raised $20.5M in it’s Series A round of fund raising. The round was led by Playground Global, with the investor syndicate including industry players such as Airbus Venture and JetBlue Technology Ventures, in addition to Toyota AI Ventures. Universal Hydrogen intends to use this new capital to expand its engineering team so as to develop a hydrogen fuel logistics network and to regional aircraft conversion kits.
Universal Hydrogen was founded in 2020 by a team with deep experience in both aviation and technology. It’s focus is to removed the logistical and cost drawback to the widespread use of hydrogen as a carbon free replacement for traditional jet fuel. It plans to transport the notoriously difficult substance in specially design capsules which can use the existing freight network and avoids the massive capex that would be required to build a parallel hydrogen pipeline and storage infrastructure. It also plans on developing a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain conversion kit. This could be retrofitted to existing regional aircraft (short haul aircraft with 40-60 seat capacity).
Universal Hydrogen’s advisory board includes the former Airbus CEO Dr. Tom Enders, former Airbus CCO John Leahy, as well as former senior FAA executives.
United Airlines announce a New Skies Program to lead the switch to Sustainable Aviation Fuels
13 April 2021
United Airlines, who has already committed to having net zero carbon emissions by 2050, has announced a program where corporate customers can donate to a fund that will be used to purchase SAF. The use of SAF produces 80% less carbon than jet fuel over its lifecycle and is the fastest and, as of this moment, only technologically viable route to drastically reducing carbon emissions in aviation since it can be mixed and burned in existing jet engines without any modification. Currently the both the cost and supply of SAF make it an unrealistic option for large scale use by airlines. United’s initiative, together with their partner’s Eco Skies, is aimed at simulating demand so that the cost of SAF will start coming down to economically viable level. Read more from United here.
Dante Aviation commits to producing an electric powered 19-seater by 2030
12 Apr 2021
Dante plans to convert and certify first a single engine Caravan, then a small twin engine aircraft, and leverages what they learn in to a clean sheet design for a 19-seater regional prop. Read the full article in Flight Global here.
French lawmakers vote to ban domestic flights where train service exists
12 Apr 2021
In order to reduce carbon emissions from aviation, French lawmakers have mandated that domestic flights will not be allowed on journeys where the trip can be made by train in under two and half hours.
This is the most strident government action we have seen in any country to curb airlines carbon emissions. Connection flights shall still be allowed, but given the forced reducing in demand for these flights, it would be impossible for an airline to maintain the number of frequencies or ticket prices, they previously offered.
Total begins production of SAF in its La Mede BioRefinery in France
8 April 2021
French energy giant Total has announced it will start delivering SAF made from used cooking oil feedstock to French airports in April 2021. A second plant near Paris will start producing SAF also from used cooking oil in 2024.
The French government has legislated that biojet fuel must be blended into traditional jet fuel at increasing rates of 1% by 2022, 2% by 2025 and 5% by 2030.
UPS Orders 10 eVTOL aircraft from Beta
7 April 2021
UPS has placed an order for 10 eVTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies, with an option for a further 140. These aircraft will be used for deliveries to small distribution points to replace Beachcraft and Cessna 208s currently fulfilling this role. Deliveries are expected for 2024 pending FFA approval. Read the full details in the Seattle Times here.
magniX announces it's electric aircraft are up to 24dB or 100 times quieter than a jet fueled engine
6 April 2021
magniX, the electric aircraft engine manufacturer has announce the results of a study showing an eBeaver – powered by one if its electric motors produces up to 24dB less noices and 100 times less sound energy during take off, as compared to the same aircraft with a conventional jet engine. Read the full details in PRNewswire here.
Electric aircraft start-up Wisk has accused rival Archer of stealing its IP
6 April 2021
Wisk, part owner by Google founder Larry Page, has accused two former employees of stealing design concepts from its design for an electric aircraft. Full details from the New York Times article here.
Chalmers University announce a significant breakthrough "structural battery" technology
22 March 2021
Structural battery technology is a potential solution to the single greatest impediment to electric aviation – the power density of electric propulsion systems. This is because structural batteries offer the potential for the carbon fiber wings and fuselage to also act as the battery that powers the aircraft. Thus greatly reducing the weight and space that a separate battery pack would need. However the technology faces the twin challenges of providing both energy density and structural strength. Early applications are imagined to be in laptops and cellphones. But this technologies could eventually be used in electric cars and aircraft.
Chalmers University of Technology has announced a 10x improvement in the functional performance of these batteries.
Currently this technology offers a power density of 24Wh/kg (approx. 20% of an equivalent Li-ion battery) and structural stiffness of 25GPa. Leif Asp, who is leading this project, estimates that power densities could reach 75Wh/kg and a structural stiffness of 75GPa – a similar strength, but far lighter than aluminum.
Full details from Experts Answer here.
Lessor Falko makes investment in Electric Aviation Group
17 March 2021
EAG is developing a HERA with a range of 1,200nm, with a view to replacing regional turboprops. Full details from Flight Global here.
Rolls Royce and Tecnam team up with Wideroe to develop an all-electric passenger aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2026
11 March 2021
This project will expand on an existing collaboration we between RR (building the powerplant) and Tecnam (the airframe). Wideroe is a regional airline that operates a dense network of short hop flights in Norway. As a wealthy country with difficult to many small villages in mountainous terrain, and a strong focus on environmental issues, Norway is an ideal launch country for electric aircraft. Read more in the official press release here.
Shell exits SAF partnership with BA and Velocys
18 January 2021
Shell has announced that is will exit the Joint Development Agreement it had with BA and the SAF technology provider Velocys to build a waste to biofuel plant in Northern England. Project Altalto plans to convert 500 megatons of MSW into 20 million gallons of jet fuel each year, once it is fully operational. BA and Velocys remain committed to the project and will continue to seek the funding required to get it built.
oneworld alliance member airlines commit to net carbon neutral flying by 2050
11 September 2020
oneworld has become the first global airline alliance to commit to carbon neutral flying by 2050. Previous to this alliance-wide commitment, several member airlines had already made individual carbon neutrality commitments. BA and Iberia parent company IAG and Japan Airlines already had a commitment to net neutral flying by 2050. While Finnair has committed to reaching the same goal by 2045.
While this commitment is to be applauded, neither the alliance nor the individual airlines have set out a specific roadmap as to how they will achieve this target. The press release refers to a board set of activities from technological improvements to SAF.
Carbon Free Aviation congratulates the oneworld alliance is showing leadership in this area, and wish them every success.
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