WestJet Group Chief Government Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech, on Sept. 19 on the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, addressed the airline’s ambitions to realize net-zero emissions by 2050 and the very important function sustainable aviation gas (SAF) performs in the way forward for decarbonizing aviation. With no present technological different for giant industrial plane propulsion, airline reliance on sustainable jet gas shall be foundational to the decarbonization of the aviation trade. With its plentiful house to develop feedstock, a big oil and fuel trade and sturdy federal sustainability targets, Canada holds the requirements to facilitate the large-scale manufacturing of SAF.
“Air journey is crucial to Canadians and important to the nation’s economic system; with the correct regulatory atmosphere and collaborative efforts of producers and airways, Canada has an infinite alternative to additional its international management in power sustainability by SAF manufacturing,” mentioned Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group CEO. “The time is now for a regulatory framework to create a aggressive funding local weather for sustainable aviation gas manufacturing, proper right here in Canada, that retains air journey reasonably priced and accessible.”
SAF is the best technique to scale back the carbon footprint of air journey, with potential to nearly totally get rid of web greenhouse fuel emissions in comparison with fossil jet gas. SAF could be blended with standard jet gas to satisfy all certification and security necessities, making it a mannequin resolution to cut back greenhouse gasses from air journey, whereas requiring no new investments in plane engines, gas infrastructure or distribution processes.
“Essentially the most direct path to realize our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 hinges on the way forward for SAF manufacturing,” continued von Hoensbroech. “Entry to SAF continues to be constrained by excessive prices, which could be as a lot as three to 5 occasions that of jet gas. Up to now, not a single drop of SAF has been produced in Canada. We imagine the very best path ahead to creating SAF the low carbon gas commonplace, is collaboration between airways, producers and coverage makers.”
