English 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
This SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels
A revolutionary breakthrough in the sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) market has been achieved by South Korean scientists, who have presented the first example of SAFs based on forest residues and suitable for long-haul flights.
This discovery could transform the aeronautical industry and contribute significantly to environmental sustainability.
An innovative fuel from wood and grass
A team led by Ha Jeong-Myeong and Yu Chun-Jae from the Clean Energy Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), managed to develop a sustainable fuel with properties similar to conventional aviation fuel.
This SAF is capable of operating for up to 100 hours, even in the presence of impurities, as reported by the researchers.
- Arabs invest R$15 billion to transform Brazilian plant into green fuel and revolutionize the market with sustainable diesel and SAF made from macauba
- Energy Transformation: How Green Hydrogen, E-Fuels and Biofuels Are Redefining Transportation and Dramatically Cutting Carbon Emissions
- Revolution in aviation: Engine of the silent supersonic X-59 aircraft operates at full afterburner for the first time
- Pentagon and Lockheed close HISTORIC $11,8 billion deal for 145 F-35 fighter jets!
Key advantages of forestry SAF:
- Up to 80% reduction in carbon emissions compared to petroleum-based aviation fuels.
- Use of non-food resources, such as wood and grass, avoiding competition with crops intended for human consumption.
The study, published in the journal Energy Conversion and Management, highlights that previous attempts to produce SAF from wood and grass generated gasoline-like compounds, not suitable for aviation.
However, Ha's team overcame this challenge through advanced decarbonization and polymerization reactions, optimizing the oils extracted from these materials.
The new fuel contains high-energy components essential for aviation, such as naphthenes and aromatics. When blended with existing SAFs, it could completely replace petroleum-based fuels in the future.
Green air corridors: the future of sustainable aviation
In the context of COP29 conference, it has been suggested that green air corridors between strategic locations could accelerate the transition to fully decarbonized aviation.
This concept, inspired by sustainable maritime corridors, is being studied by an international team of researchers from Heriot-Watt University (United Kingdom) and the American University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates).
A strategic approach to sustainable fuels for long-haul flights
The study, published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, proposes prioritizing high-demand routes, such as London-Dubai, given that both airports are among the busiest in the world and generate high CO2 emissions.
Highlighted data:
- London Heathrow Airport is already a world leader in SAF deployment, with a target of incorporating 11% SAF into its total fuel consumption by 2030.
- Dubai and the UK are heavily dependent on long-haul flights, which provides them with a unique opportunity to lead the adoption of SAFs and demonstrate the viability of these technologies.
International collaboration and emerging technology
According to Professor Steve Griffiths, vice president of research at the American University of Sharjah, establishing green air corridors would not only accelerate the decarbonization of the aviation sector but also promote global cooperation in the development of sustainable fuels.
Furthermore, Professor John Andresen from Heriot-Watt University emphasizes the urgency of prioritizing strategic pathways to foster the use of net-zero emissions SAF technologies.
Implications for the future
This advancement in SAFs from wood and grass residues, combined with the green air corridors strategy, represents a crucial step towards more sustainable aviation.
Reducing emissions, using non-food resources and international collaboration will be essential to achieving truly green air transport.
