Southeast Asia’s first helicopter running on sustainable aviation fuel takes flight in Singapore, demonstrating the fuel is available and safe to use.
The helicopter took flight on the 26th September, marking the start of greener test flights for buyers of helicopter manufacturer Bell, as the company looks to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
According to Neste, supplier of the renewable fuel, similar flights running on the sustainable fuel are expected to cut emissions by around 30% without any negative impact to the experience.
“So far, the feedback has been really good. We’re seeing the same performance and I think customers are satisfied that we’re taking steps right to reduce greenhouse emissions,” Bell’s managing director for Asia Pacific Jacinto Monge told CNA.
In June 2022, a similar achievement was reached between Airbus Helicopters and Japans leading helicopter operator Nakanihon Air (NNK) in Japan.
What is sustainable aviation fuel?
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a type of low-carbon “biofuel” made from sustainable sources such as natural gas, plant oils, ethanol, and animal fats. It can be used in some part as an alternative to jet fuel in aircraft with little or no modification to the engine or aircraft.
While SAF produces fewer emissions than traditional fuels, some analysts and academics argue that the emissions produced are not significantly lower after accounting for fertiliser use and transportation.
There are also those, such as The Green Allience who believe that increased use of crop-based biofuels would inflate the price of food by creating land competition between fuel and food production.
Many major commuter airlines already use a combination of SAF and traditional fuel, with the potential of using up to 50% ratio.
Another example of a commonly used biofuel comes from the UK, where most fuel consists of a blend of petrol and 10% plant-based renewable ethanol, aptly named E10, in an effort to reduce overall emissions.
Sky high prices
But, there is a downside to SAF, which is its additional cost to produce. Because the fuel is typically three to four times more expensive than traditional fuels, airlines rarely buy them it in bulk, resulting in less being produced. Speaking to Bloomberg, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian made the point that if the airline were to fill all its planes for one day, the carrier would soak up a year’s worth of U.S. SAF supply.
On this point, Neste VP, Sami Jauhiainen, does not expect the cleaner alternative to be cost-competitive, even when considering “significant” efficiencies of scale in ramping up production.
“We do expect that the premium will be there and hence we will need policy frameworks that enable ultimately that cost premium to be transferred ultimately to the ticket prices and be paid by aviation’s end customers in the end,” he said.
In order to combat the increased cost, Singapore Airlines has introduced a SAF credit system. These credits allow corporate and individual travellers, as well as freight forwarders, an avenue to reduce their carbon footprint, stimulate demand for SAF, and support the development of the industry.
In the U.S. The Inflation Reduction Act recently included a tax credit for SAF, in an effort to encourage more use and production of the fuel within the airline industry.
Where does the UK sit in relation to SAF?
In May, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps announced plans to deliver the world’s first net-zero emissions transatlantic flight powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel in 2023. The flight will provide invaluable data concerning future work for testing and certifying the use of SAF.
Stating “This trailblazing net zero emissions flight, a world first, will demonstrate the vital role that sustainable aviation fuel can play in decarbonising aviation in line with our ambitious net zero targets.”
Supporting the government in delivering the historic flight, is engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, who recently announced of the approval of its mtu diesel engines for operation with sustainable fuels by its Power Systems business unit (Power Systems).
SAF for the future
Mabel Kwan, the managing director of Alton Aviation Consultancy, a US aviation consulting firm, believes that sustainable aviation fuel, which makes up less than 1 percent of the global jet fuel demand, is an easy and quick way to green the sector in the short to medium term.
However, she added, as technology evolves, we should expect to see more alternatives to decarbonise the aviation industry.
“The new novel technologies in terms of other new energy sources such as hydrogen, and eventually electrical aircraft, that’s something that the industry will be able to develop in the longer run on a commercial scale,” she said.
