Aviation and Greenhouse Gas Reductions: A Role for Renewable Jet Fuels

by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) In a July 1 Federal Register notice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented plans to control greenhouse gases (GHG) from aircraft. In August, in Washington, D.C., EPA held a hearing on its proposal. About 40 people attended, with 14 providing comments.

Nancy Young, vice president of environmental affairs for Airlines for America (A4A), a group representing major passenger and cargo airlines, spoke at EPA’s August hearing. U.S. airlines, she said, are part of a global coalition committed to 1.5 percent annual average fuel efficiency improvements through 2020 and carbon neutral growth from 2020.

In an interview, Young said that A4A is “extremely hopeful for the prospect of renewable aviation fuels.”

She said that airlines are “trying to really push the development and deployment of renewable jet fuels because, depending on the particular renewable fuel, you can get a savings anywhere from 30 percent to 80 percent relative to conventional fuel, based on the (greenhouse gas) lifecycle.”

Recall that emissions are expected to increase by almost 50 percent in 20 years. Additional 30 percent and 80 percent reductions are significant.

EPA’s proposal is aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations subcommittee. ICAO wants an international carbon reduction standard in early 2016. ICAO, too, has the goal of stabilizing carbon emissions at 2020 levels.

Importantly, ICAO’s analyses show that even after the benefits from technological and operational measures, aviation CO2 emissions still increase with business growth. For this transportation sector, renewable fuels are critical. READ MORE