What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

[rangerrebew]

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
 
What you need to know about SAF
The world’s appetite for flying keeps on growing, fuelling concerns about how to shrink the carbon footprint of air travel – today the cause of about 2.5% of all energy-related emissions.

While that’s a relatively small share of global emissions, it looks set to increase in the decades to come as other sectors, such as road transport, cut their emissions by switching to electric – still a distant technological prospect for commercial aircraft. Increasing demand for air travel will also play a role.

Aviation’s Green Dream: Read our investigative series on Sustainable Aviation Fuel

For the airline industry and many governments across the world, the solution is so-called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can cut emissions by between 50% and nearly 100%, depending on how it is made, without requiring aircraft modifications.

How is SAF made?

https://www.climatechangenews.com/explainer/what-is-sustainable-aviation-fuel-saf/

[rangerrebew]

I'm no scientist, but this seems like jet engine damage waiting to happen.

[Smokin Joe]

Sounds like a very expensive way to make things go. One which likely has not had a full assessment of the energy that goes into it, which distorts the 'cleanliness' and 'sustainability' of the end product.

Being 3 to 7 times the price is a real plus, too. Only Environmental activists and the very wealthy can afford to put that tiger in their tank.

Ultimately, it becomes yet another excuse for the 'elite' to be the only ones to fly while the peasants take mass transit around their 15 minute hives. Such is that future.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The aviation industry will tell you the very best aviation fuel possible is synthetically made using the Fischer-Tropsch process from natural gas.

It is preferred as, unlike refining of crude oils as feedstock, it is a chemical reaction and has no contaminants.

It is also considered a sustainable fuel.

Shell built the world's first commercial grade plant generating synthetic fuels using Fischer-Tropsch in Malaysia in 1993.

[Smokin Joe]

The aviation industry will tell you the very best aviation fuel possible is synthetically made using the Fischer-Tropsch process from natural gas.

It is preferred as, unlike refining of crude oils as feedstock, it is a chemical reaction and has no contaminants.

It is also considered a sustainable fuel.

Shell built the world's first commercial grade plant generating synthetic fuels using Fischer-Tropsch in Malaysia in 1993.

Actually, the Nazis were using the process to make fuel and had some nine plants in operation by the end of the war. Maybe that isn't considered commercial grade, but it helped fuel their war effort, especially after the Ploesti raids.

[Hoodat]

The aviation industry will tell you the very best aviation fuel possible is synthetically made using the Fischer-Tropsch process from natural gas.

Why not use natural gas to drive jet turbines?  Seems more efficient that way.

[Smokin Joe]

Why not use natural gas to drive jet turbines?  Seems more efficient that way.

I can see where maintaining fuel pressures would be problematical, and the possibility of leaks would be tremendous. Changes from pressures and temperatures on the tarmac to cruising altitude would make maintaining even fuel flow more difficult. Additionally, the potential for fires and explosions in the event of a landing which went badly would be amplified. Then there is the process of fueling the aircraft, and that the gas would have to be in liquid form to put enough on board to get where you are headed. Current fuels are formulated to reduce explosion risks and are less likely to leak than gaseous fuels. 

[Fishrrman]

Question:
"What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?"

Answer:
It's a scam (SCAM)...

[Smokin Joe]

Question:
"What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?"

Answer:
It's a scam (SCAM)...

Well, yeah. Use Hydrogen... (where does that come from? Oh, you have to make it. Using electricity? Where do you get that? ...etc.)

They never present the full equation. Never.

[Hoodat]

I can see where maintaining fuel pressures would be problematical, and the possibility of leaks would be tremendous. Changes from pressures and temperatures on the tarmac to cruising altitude would make maintaining even fuel flow more difficult. Additionally, the potential for fires and explosions in the event of a landing which went badly would be amplified. Then there is the process of fueling the aircraft, and that the gas would have to be in liquid form to put enough on board to get where you are headed. Current fuels are formulated to reduce explosion risks and are less likely to leak than gaseous fuels.

I was speaking strictly from an energy standpoint.  'Refining' natural gas into some kerosene equivalent is not a net-zero process.  There is inefficiency at any step of a conversion process.  But while Fischer-Tropsch may deliver the best quality, it is likely less expensive to refine petroleum into a liquid fuel rather than natural gas.

Hey, maybe we should make electric airplanes powered by windmills mounted along each wing.

[Smokin Joe]

I was speaking strictly from an energy standpoint.  'Refining' natural gas into some kerosene equivalent is not a net-zero process.  There is inefficiency at any step of a conversion process.  But while Fischer-Tropsch may deliver the best quality, it is likely less expensive to refine petroleum into a liquid fuel rather than natural gas.

Hey, maybe we should make electric airplanes powered by windmills mounted along each wing.

Well, Fischer-Tropsch could be used or the Bergius process, and either will make liquid fuels from coal, of which we have abundant reserves (over a 500 year supply), since it seems no one wants to use it to generate electricity any more. 

[rustynail]

'What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?'  Something found at the crash site?

[Smokin Joe]

Considering the cost of a modern aircraft, be it civilian or military, I don't think it prudent to piss and moan about a few cents per gallon. Get the highest quality fuel available for that aircraft, period.