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SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR AVIATION

ICAO Secretariat

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CO2 Emissions Trends

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Basket of measures

Improve efficiency

Aircraft technology

Aircraft operations

Incentivize emissions reduction Market Based Measures

Introducing low carbon footprint fuels

Sustainable alternative fuels

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“Low carbon footprint” fuel

CO2

• CO2 emitted by combustion up-taken by plant growth Neutral

• Only CO2 emitted for fuel production is accounted for in a Life Cycle Approach (LCA)*

Example: biofuels

* LCA: accounting for emissions all steps of the fuel life, from plant growth to end use in aircraft

Potential to reduce GHG emissions

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“Drop-in” fuels

• Road transportation biofuels not suitable for aviation

• Severe constraints of use on aviation fuels– Freezing point (- 47 °C)– Energy contain– …

• Compatibility with existing system– “DROP-IN” fuel

• Aviation fuels need to be approved– ASTM, DEFSTAN,…– First alternative fuels approved in 2009 and 2011

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Pathways to sustainable fuels

Simplified view of pathways for alternative jet fuels

Micro-algae

Oleaginous plants

Tri-glycerides Hydroprocessing

Recycled oil

Animal fats

Hydroprocessing

Sugar crops

Sugar & starch Fermentation

Cereals

""Alcohol-to-Jet"

Cellulosic plants

Macro-algae Lignocellulose Fischer-Tropsh

Residues Municipal wastes

Drop-in Jet Fuel(& diesel)

Components

Yeast, algae

Hydrolysis Alcohol

Hydrocarbons

Waste gases

Approved

Approved

(HEFA)

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Example of biofuels GHG savings

Conventional kerosene

Switchgrass

Short rotation forestry

Miscanthus

Microalgaes

Rapeseed

Jatropha

Camelina

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Potential GHG emission reduction with biofuelsIndicative mean values*

Well to TankTank to wake

GHG emission gCO2eq/MJfuel Source: SWAFEA

* with no land use change Variation range (depending on cultivation conditions)

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Progress status

• 2 alternative fuel pathways approvedAdditional approvals underway

• First commercial flights in 2011More than 1500 flights by July 2012

• First regular flights initiated in 2013

• First supply agreements signed by airlines

Feasibility is demonstrated, next step is to deploy

…

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In a nut shell

• Potential for significant emissions reductions– Depends on feedstock type and cultivation, conversion process…

• Emissions reductions achievable with existing aircraft• Benefits will depend on:

– the availability of such fuels and the time profile of their deployment– their actual lifecycle emissions reduction

• Challenges– Decreasing production cost– Investment in feedstock production and conversion facilities– Ensuring a sustainable deployment

A policy support from States is required

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ICAO and sustainable alternative fuels

• A facilitator for the development and deployment– Providing fora for education, outreach and exchanges– Supporting exchange and dissemination of information– Facilitating development of standardized definitions, methodologies

and processes

• A key actor to provide a global view– Data collection and State’s Action Plan– Projection and scenarios – Trends assessment

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• Global Framework on Aviation Alternative Fuels (GFAAF)– A database on aviation alternative fuels

(http://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/GFAAF/Pages/default.aspx)

• ICAO’s conference and workshops– Rio de Janeiro 2009– Montréal 2009 & 2011

• Rio+20: the ICAO’s “Flightpath” initiative– Four connecting flights using biofuels from Montréal to Rio de Janeiro

• ICAO’s SUSTAF Experts Group– Analysis of the challenges and recommendations– Outcomes available on the GFAAF

ICAO achievements

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• Visit the GFAAF websitehttp://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/GFAAF/Pages/default.aspx

• Read the SUSTAF experts group report (available on the GFAAF)

• Read Environmental Report chapter 4

For more information

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Additional information

For more information on our activities, please visit ICAO’ website: http://www.icao.int/env