Airline Code [SAS]
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Tags :Continental Europe, SAS, biofuels
SAS, with other leading air carriers, Boeing and Honeywell's UOP, a refining technology developer, established a group to accelerate the development and commercialisation of sustainable new aviation fuels.
With support and advice from the world's leading environmental organizations, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group makes commercial aviation the first global transportation sector to voluntarily drive verifiable sustainability practices into its fuel supply chain.
The group's charter is to enable the commercial use of renewable fuel sources that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while lessening commercial aviation's exposure to oil price volatility and dependence on fossil fuels. Airlines supporting the sustainable fuels initiative include Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cargolux, Continental Airlines, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Collectively, they account for more than 15 percent of commercial jet fuel use.
All group members subscribe to a sustainability pledge stipulating that any sustainable biofuel must perform as well as, or better than, kerosene-based fuel, but with a smaller carbon lifecycle. The user's group pledged to consider only renewable fuel sources with minimal impacts to the biosphere: fuels that require minimal land, water and energy to produce, and that don't compete with food or fresh water resources. In addition, cultivation and harvest of plant stocks must provide socioeconomic value to the local communities.
Niels Eirik Nertun, Environment Director, SAS Group said, "We have for many years been part of a number of research and development projects regardings renewable biofuels, with the aim to find a long-term solution for aviation. We bring all this experience into this group and will now put all our focus on together finding durable and lasting solutions for the future."
The group has announced two initial sustainability research projects. Yale University's School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, through funding provided by Boeing, will conduct the first peer-reviewed, comprehensive sustainability assessment of jatropha curcas, to include lifecycle CO2 emissions and the socio-economic impacts to farmers in developing nations. Similarly, NRDC will conduct a comprehensive assessment of algae to ensure it meets the group's stringent sustainability criteria.
Both species may potentially become part of a portfolio of biomass-based renewable fuel solutions that, through advanced fuel processing methodologies developed by energy sector leaders such as UOP, can help aviation diversify its fuel supply.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 26-Sep-08
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SAS to accelerate development and availability of sustainable biofuels 
