november2022 - 4

Editor's Note
JOSH SMITH
josh@AviationPros.com
+1 920-563-1644
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How the Industry Aims to
Increase SAF Production
Programs and initiatives adopted both domestically and abroad
highlight sustainable aviation fuel's value in decarbonizing aviation.
O
n the heels of the Inflation Reduction Act, the adoption
and increased production of sustainable aviation
fuel (SAF) has received more support.
At the 41st Assembly Meeting of the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), held last month in Montreal,
member states adopted a long-term aspiration goal (LTAG) of
net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
According to ICAO, the achievement of this LTAG will rely
on the " combined effect of multiple CO2 emissions reduction
measures, " including the increased production and deployment
of SAF along with other factors like the accelerated adoption of
new aircraft technologies and streamlined flight operations.
" States' adoption of this new long-term goal for decarbonized
air transport, following the similar commitments from industry
groups, will contribute importantly to the green innovation and
implementation momentum which must be accelerated over
the coming decades to ultimately achieve emissions free powered
flight, " Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the ICAO Council,
said in a press release announcing the LTAG.
Also dring ICAO's Assembly Meeting, support was pledged
to the new ICAO Assistance, Capacity-building and Training
for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) program, which is
designed to accelerate the availability and use of SAF.
What's more, countries participating in ICAO's Assembly
Meeting agreed on a new baseline for the Carbon Offsetting and
Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
During a webinar hosted by Third Way titled A Flight Path for
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy, Annie Petsonk, assistant secretary
for aviation and internal affairs for the U.S. Department
of Transportations, shared thoughts on why airlines' renewed
pledge to CORSIA is vital to the LTAG of net-zero carbon emissions
by mid-century.
" CORSIA was suspended, effectively, during the pandemic.
So, for the years 2021, '22, '23, the airlines do not have an effective
obligation to reduce emissions. But as a result of [October's]
agreement, starting approximately in 2024, international
4 || Ground Support Worldwide || November 2022
airlines flying between countries that have volunteered for
CORSIA - and that's over 100 countries now - have the obligation
to limit their net emissions to 85 percent of their 2019 emissions, "
Petsonk said.
" If that sustainable aviation fuel is produced in a way that, on
a lifecycle basis, reduces emissions below what conventional jet
fuel would produce on a lifecycle basis, then those reductions
can be counted toward the airlines' goals under CORSIA and
also under the U.S. Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge
and the roadmap for meeting the Grand Challenge, " she said.
The SAF Grand Challenge is a U.S.-based initiative. The collaborative
program is being conducted by the U.S. Department
of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department
of Agriculture and other agencies to establish a strategy for
increasing the production of SAF on a commercial scale.
" The SAF Grand Challenge is a government-wide effort to
work with the industry to reduce the cost, enhance the sustainability
and expand production - not only to achieve that 3 billion
gallons per year by 2030, but to do so for fuels that achieve
at least a 50-percent reduction on a lifecycle basis compared to
conventional jet fuel, " Petsonk said.
" That is where we'll begin to see the real climate benefits
from using these fuels. "
The roadmap for meeting the SAF Grand Challenge identifies
six action areas within activities that may impact the program's
objectives of expanding SAF supply and use, reducing the cost
of SAF and enhancing SAF's sustainability. These six actions
include feedstock innovation; conversion technology innovation;
building supply chains; policy and valuation analysis; enabling
end use; and communicating progress and building support.
According to Petsonk, the agencies working cooperatively to
implement these six action items of the SAF Grand Challenge
coupled with ICAO members' establishing a LTAG of achieving
net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while strengthening CORSIA
obligations should " provide a powerful signal to the market that
sustainable aviation fuel is here to stay. "
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november2022

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