SAF Volumes growing but still missing opportunities
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced estimates for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. In 2023, SAF volumes reached over 600 million liters (0.5Mt), double the 300 million liters (0.25 Mt) produced in 2022. SAF accounted for 3% of all renewable fuels produced, with 97% of renewable fuel production going to other sectors. In 2024 SAF production is expected to triple to 1.875 billion liters (1.5Mt), accounting for 0.53% of aviation’s fuel need, and 6% of renewable fuel capacity.
“The doubling of SAF production in 2023 was encouraging as is the expected tripling of production expected in 2024. But even with that impressive growth, SAF as a portion of all renewable fuel production will only grow from 3% this year to 6% in 2024. This allocation limits SAF supply and keeps prices high. Aviation needs between 25% and 30% of renewable fuel production capacity for SAF. At those levels aviation will be on the trajectory needed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Governments must prioritize policies to incentivize the scaling-up of SAF production and to diversify feedstocks with those available locally,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. IATA attributes the relatively low level of uptake to supply rather than lack of demand. Operators have bought and used “every drop” of SAF produced, noted IATA. In fact, SAF added $756 million to a record-high fuel bill in 2023.
Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 6X enters service
Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 6X entered service on November 30.
Type certification was granted last August 22nd by both EASA and the FAA. Since that time, post-certification upgrades were applied that required EASA approval. Pratt & Whitney Canada joins Dassault Aviation in celebrating the entry into service of the new Falcon 6X business jet, powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D turbofan engines. Its fuel economy allows this largest-ever Falcon for up to fly missions of up to 5,500 nm / 10,200 km. The PW812D was routinely flown on SAF during the test campaign. www.dassaultfalcon.com
Lufthansa Group joins Airbus’ carbon-removal initiative
It is considered a promising solution for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere: The so-called Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) technology filters CO2 from the air and stores it permanently. The Lufthansa Group has now signed a contract with Airbus on the pre-purchase of verified and durable carbon-removal credits of 40,000 tonnes of CO2. The carbon-removal credits will be issued by Airbus through its ACCO (Airbus Carbon Capture Offer) service.
Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage is a technology that involves filtering CO2emissions directly from the air using high powered fans. Once removed from the air, the CO2 is stored deep underground in geologic saline formations. In addition to the comprehensive measures that companies are taking to reduce CO2 emissions, carbon removal is required to support the achievement of net-zero targets. Additionally, the Direct Air Carbon Capture technology will be a building block for the production of next-generation Sustainable Aviation Fuels. For SAF production from renewable energies with the Power-to-Liquid or Sun-to-Liquid technologies, CO2 is for instance captured from the atmosphere and processed further. The Airbus carbon-removal initiative is based on Airbus’ partnership with US-based company 1PointFive that includes the pre-purchase of carbon-removal credits of 400,000 tonnes of CO2 to be delivered over four years. www.lufthansagroup.com
People: Boeing names Stephanie Pope Chief Operating Officer
Boeing this week announced Stephanie Pope as executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Boeing Company. In this newly created position, effective January 1, 2024, Pope will report to Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun. As Boeing COO, Pope will oversee the performance of the company's three business units. The business unit CEOs, the Boeing Chief Engineer and the President of Boeing Global will report directly to Pope. Pope's successor to lead Boeing Global Services will be named at a later date.
Prior to this role, Pope was vice president and chief financial officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, from December 2020 to March 2022, with responsibility for the financial management and strategic, long-range business planning for the business unit.
Previously, Pope was vice president and chief financial officer of Boeing Global Services, where she oversaw all financial activities for the business unit and was instrumental in its establishment in 2017. Before that, Pope served as vice president of Finance and controller for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. In her nearly three decades at Boeing, Pope has held a number of other senior leadership positions at the corporate level as well as the program level for Boeing Defense, Space and Security. Pope was an Eisenhower Fellow in Brussels and Ireland in 2008. Pope has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University and a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University. www.boeing.com