What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
Flying is an important part of the modern-day world and the connections that we are able to make and the people we are able to meet from all over the world is a vital part of society! Travelling to different places around the world, however, can be detrimental to the environment and poses a great risk of harming the natural world. In order to lessen the effects that flying has on the environment, sustainable aviation fuel has been developed to ensure sustainable travel is more possible. Sustainable fuel for aviation is made using similar properties compared to normal types of fuel but it produces less carbon in the process. This can help to reduce the impact that aircraft, and the fuels that they use, have on the environment!
Why is it Important?
Flying and travel is an important part of modern-day society and it is not going anywhere anytime soon. Sustainable aviation fuel has been developed so that travel can be more sustainable and eco-friendly, with less environmental impact and fewer carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. As the world looks to better and more ecological ways to live a sustainable life, it is important that these developments be acknowledged and used correctly, and developing the world’s understanding of what sustainable aviation fuel is and how it is better for the environment is important.
Standard fuel products release a ton of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and can be extremely bad for the environment. Using sustainable aviation fuel can help to reduce the effects that this fuel use has on the environment, ensuring that travel becomes more sustainable and that there are fewer negative environmental impacts. This can help to ensure that travellers reduce their carbon footprint and that less carbon is released when a plane is flying.
Is it Safe to Use?
Yes, SAF is as safe to use as any other fuel product and due to the fact that the chemicals and ingredients are very similar, an aircraft does not need to change any of the mechanics it holds to process the fuel itself. Most sustainable aviation fuel is made up of biofuels, which
means that this kind of fuel is made from plant or animal materials. This makes it safe to use when used in the correct way!
What are The Features of SAF?
The physical and chemical features and characteristics of sustainable aviation fuel are nearly identical to standard fuel, making it easy to change from one to the other. Due to the fact that the composition of these types of fuel is so similar, aircraft do not have to be fitted with new technologies in order to correctly process this new kind of fuel. The developments of these kinds of fuel are, as the name suggests, sustainable and developed with the environment and the continued use of these products in mind. Though this new way of producing fuel is far better for the environment, it is still not in a high enough demand that many businesses will make it, and until this demand increases, old and unsustainable fuels will continue to be used.
What Does it Take to Produce SAF?
The main component of any type of sustainable aviation fuel is that they are made with non-carbon-based ingredients. Carbon-based ingredients are responsible for releasing carbon into the atmosphere, having disastrous consequences and effects on the environment. Biowaste is most often used to create these kinds of sustainable fuels, and using these ingredients ensures that non-renewable sources are not used up when it comes to the aviation industry!
Is SAF Really The Key to Making Aviation Greener?
As the aviation industry grows and flying becomes a more normal part of many people’s lives, it is important that more sustainable fuel options be developed. Sustainable aviation fuel is a type of fuel product that can change the impact that travel and aviation have on the environment and sustainability. Fuel and the carbon footprint of every flight that takes off and lands is massive, and reducing the impacts of this specific part of the travel process can work towards making travel much more sustainable and eco-friendly. It is therefore one of the most important things to consider when looking at making aviation greener!
Why aren’t More Airlines Using SAF?
As with most things that are produced to be more sustainable, SAF is quite a bit more expensive than standard fuel products. The expense of sustainable aviation fuel prices has meant that very few businesses have taken to creating this product as the demand is simply not high enough to warrant big production. The cost of sustainable aviation fuel is an important factor and the reason why SAF is not a product that is used very often in the airline industry. Increasing the amount of sustainable aviation fuel producers will increase the number of airlines that use this product and reduce the costs involved, helping to ensure that the aviation industry becomes greener and more sustainable!
How Can We Increase The Use Of SAF?
Increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel involves many different things, but one of the main factors that could play a major role in increasing the amount of SAF fuel used and produced is governments creating incentive programs. Incentives around using fuel that releases less carbon into the atmosphere will increase the amount of SAF that is required and demanded, increasing the amount that it is used. Increasing the sustainable aviation fuel production amounts and getting this type of fuel to be the more preferred option for aviation companies is a big part of increasing the use of SAF. This is the only way to reap the benefits of sustainable aviation fuel!