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A deep dive into the turbulence facing sustainable aviation
- The aviation sector's contribution to global carbon emissions may increase as it struggles to decarbonize with low-carbon alternatives due to unique challenges like energy density, weight constraints, and safety standards critical for air travel.
- There is no one technological solution for decarbonisation, and all are required, from improving existing aircraft designs to upgrading fuel used for aircraft (SAF, hydrogen, and electric).
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) presents the most developed path to reducing aviation's carbon footprint due to its drop-in compatibility with existing aircraft and the ability to integrate into current infrastructure, but its cost remains 2-4 times higher than conventional jet fuel and faces significant logistical challenges.
- Governments worldwide are helping advance SAF production through policy and investment support to stimulate demand and de-risk private investment. While Australia released the Aviation White Paper - Towards 2050, which outlined long-term policy vision for the Australian aviation sector, it remains cautious about taking this issue seriously.
- Fleet renewal plays an important role in reducing emissions as ageing aircraft are replaced by a new, more fuel-efficient generation designed to be compatible with SAF, enabling a gradual increase in SAF usage as production scales up and becomes more cost-effective.
- Electric aircraft produce zero direct carbon emissions during flight using renewable energy sources. However, current battery technology limitations prevent long-haul flights although they could become commercially viable for short-haul and regional routes within the next 20-30 years as advanced battery energy density expands.
- Hydrogen-powered aircraft hold immense potential for long-range travel, but require extensive research & development, testing, certification, and significant investment in global airport hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, which is virtually non-existent.
- The future of sustainable aviation relies on the successful integration of multiple technologies, supported by industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors, ensuring a cleaner, more efficient future for air travel.
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