Brazil passes pioneering ‘Fuel of the Future’ law & More
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry updates
Brazil's Fuel of the Future programme aims to expand biofuel use, establishing regulatory regimes for SAF, biomethane, and carbon capture. It's expected to unlock R$260 billion in investments and prevent 705 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2037.
International Civil Aviation Organization and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have signed an agreement to boost financing for SAF and cleaner energy projects. The collaboration aims to operationalise ICAO's Finvest Hub, facilitating identification of financial resources for scaling up SAF production.
IBA Group reports a significant global decrease in CO2 per Available Seat Kilometre from 2019 to 2024. Latin America leads with a 10.1% improvement, while Asia-Pacific shows the smallest improvement at 4.1%, highlighting regional variations in flight efficiency.
Aviation representatives are asking the EU for less regulation and more financial support to develop sustainable technologies. The industry emphasises the need for investment in SAF, improved air traffic control, and more efficient aircraft designs.
Newcastle International Airport in Australia has secured a A$235 million Green Sustainability-Linked Loan from CommBank to fund pioneering sustainability programmes. The loan is tied to efforts to reduce scope 3 emissions, achieve high ACA levels, and minimise waste sent to landfills.
bp has abandoned its target to cut oil and gas output by 2030, as CEO Murray Auchincloss scales back the company's energy transition strategy. The firm now aims to boost production in the Middle East and Gulf of Mexico.
easyJet 's outgoing CEO Johan Lundgren warns that passing on costs from the incoming SAF mandate to passengers could impact the airline's profitability. He expresses concern about the potential £8 increase per flight affecting less privileged travellers.
CLIMATE WATCH: Collapsing wildlife populations near ‘points of no return’, report warns | Biodiversity - The Guardian
Global wildlife populations have plummeted by an average of 73% in 50 years, according to a WWF and ZSL report. Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the steepest decline at 95%, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
United Airlines has switched from plastic wine bottles to aluminium cans, reducing single-use plastic by 4.7 million bottles annually. The airline has also introduced an updated wine list featuring women-owned brands in its domestic economy cabin.
Dubai Airports is collaborating with Etihad Clean Energy Development Company to launch the world's largest rooftop solar panel installation project at an airport. The agreement was formalised during the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Pittsburgh International Airport plans to double the size of its solar farm, expanding beyond its current 8-acre, 9,390-panel installation. The airport's vast 8,800-acre property provides ample space for the expansion.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Lummus Technology and Next Wave Energy Partners have produced the world's first renewable alkylate from ethanol. This bio-based, low-carbon intensity fuel blending component demonstrates a significant advancement in eco-friendly chemical processes.
A Japanese-Australian consortium plans to mass-produce SAF from pongamia oil trees in Queensland, Australia. The project could receive up to 100 billion yen in investment and aims to address the growing demand for sustainable fuel.
US scientists have developed a method using methane arrested anaerobic digestion technology to convert organic wastewater into volatile fatty acids for SAF production. The process could reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70%.
The Philippine government and Airbus are partnering to explore SAF production in the country. The feasibility study will analyse macroeconomic data, evaluate feedstocks and production pathways, and assess implementation support and financing.
China Airlines has conducted Taiwan's first freighter flight using SAF and signed an MoU with Morrison Express for its SAF programme. The airline is also implementing various other sustainability initiatives.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority in the Philippines has partnered with Australian zero-emissions aircraft manufacturer AMSL Aero to explore developing a new aircraft industry and catalyse hydrogen production in the country.
Uniper and Sasol have cancelled a 200MW hydrogen-based SAF project in Sweden, citing slow market development, insufficient regulations, and cost increases. The project, announced in 2022, is no longer considered commercially viable.
Textron eAviation has announced plans for the first flight tests of its Nexus eVTOL aircraft in 2025 at Salina Regional Airport. The zero-emission aircraft, designed to carry one pilot and four passengers, will undergo performance validation following initial restrained tests.
Airspeeder , an eVTOL racing league, has partnered with architecture firm HOK to create the "SkyDeck", a modular race vertiport. This solar-powered facility will offer fans 360-degree views of aerial races, bringing a new dimension to motorsports.
Startup Cosmic Aerospace has flown a subscale model of its planned Skylark 24-seat all-electric regional airliner. The company aims for first flight in 2026 and service entry in 2029, targeting an 80% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional aircraft.
We hope you enjoyed reading this week’s highlights. Subscribe for free to receive new posts straight in your inbox.
Circular economy expert | Author | Masters and Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania | Founder of Penn Sustainability Consulting
1moThe new Brazilian law seems promissing, but I wonder if they are thinking ahead and considering the possible deforestation that might come from expanding agriculture to make biofuels.