Is the long-awaited breakthrough in aviation coming? November 28 will go down in history as the date of the first transatlantic flight powered exclusively by recycled fuel.
Virgin Atlantic Airlines will operate the first-ever flight of this type on November 28th. A Boeing 787 will fly from London to New York, the fuel tanks of which will contain only the so-called SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) - the most environmentally friendly type of aviation fuel made from household waste, mainly from edible oil.
Is eco-friendly flight becoming a reality?
In the case of a pioneer voyage with 80 tons of fuel, 88 percent would be used cooking oil and the rest of the tank would be filled with fuel made from agricultural waste. This will be the remains of corn grown in the USA.
Permission to fly was granted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority after many months of testing and analysis. The world’s largest companies, including BP and aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, have taken part in the work to create an appropriate, safe and possibly environmentally friendly mixture.
SAF does not solve all problems
However, experts and environmental organizations remind that this type of fuel is not completely harmless. However, research shows that not only are products not used that would otherwise have to be disposed of, but the negative environmental impact can be as high as 70%. less than in the case of classic aviation fuel.
It is the aviation industry, along with maritime cargo transportation, that faces the greatest challenge in terms of reducing emissions of environmentally harmful substances. Airline executives believe that using SAF is currently the best way to make the passenger market climate neutral.
Currently, airlines cannot use fuel containing more than 50 percent SAF. the whole mixture. Also, the problem is the price. Due to the fact that new generation fuel is produced by very few suppliers, it is significantly more expensive than classic high-emission fuel. However, some governments, including the British, began to subsidize the construction of new production lines aimed at creating SAF. The UK strategy also calls for 10 per cent of aviation fuel to be recycled by 2030.
Source: Wprost
I am George Brown, author at Daily News Hack. I mostly cover economy news and I have been doing this for quite some time now. I have a lot of experience in this field and I’m always looking for new opportunities to learn more.
