3 Jan '21

Newslinks: December 2020

January 3, 2021

NEWS

Emissions to net zero greenwash

OFFSETTING

When all sectors need to reduce their emissions to zero, the aviation industry buys/offsets the reductions of others in order to grow its own emissions.

• S&P Global Platts to publish first voluntary carbon credit price assessments
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/coal/121620-sampp-global-platts-to-publish-first-voluntary-carbon-credit-price-assessments

• ICAO completes final building blocks for implementing CORSIA carbon scheme ahead of pilot phase start
https://www.greenaironline.com/news.php?viewStory=2761

UN-SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL

The aviation industry uses marketing greenwash and accounting tricks to mislead you into thinking that actual flight emissions from ‘Sustainable’ Aviation Fuel (SAF) are a fraction of those from fossil jet fuel. A jet never burns pure SAF, so a common 50:50 blend with fossil jet fuel doubles claimed emissions. And actual flight CO2 emissions are additionally more than claimed, by the amount of CO2 drawn down in making the fuel. Furthermore SAF still creates non-CO2 emissions twice as warming as actual flight CO2 emissions.

• The benefits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel go beyond CO₂
https://www.euractiv.com/section/aviation/opinion/the-benefits-of-sustainable-aviation-fuel-go-beyond-co%E2%82%82

• Shell to Supply DHL Express with Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Schiphol Airport
https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/fueling-equipment-accessories/fuel-distributors-suppliers-manufacturers/press-release/21203000/shell-aviation-shell-to-supply-dhl-express-with-sustainable-aviation-fuel-at-schiphol-airport

• New US legislation sets policy menu for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/new-legislation-sets-policy-menu-for-sustainable-aviation-fuels

• Green jet fuel plant developers’ joy as World Economic Forum backs method as best aviation solution
https://www.business-live.co.uk/professional-services/consultancies/green-jet-fuel-plant-developers-19291786

• Neste invests in AFS fuel storage company to enable supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/12/20201202-neste.html

• Sky high demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel drives new price benchmark
https://investableuniverse.com/2020/12/04/sustainable-aviation-fuel-argus-price-gunvor-group/

• Commercial aviation’s first SAF-fuelled cargo flight operated by DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo
https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/146177/db-schenker-lufthansa-cargo-saf-fuelled-cargo-flight/

• Sustainable fuels to power RAF jets
https://www.miragenews.com/sustainable-fuels-to-power-raf-jets/

• Can Shell help pilot a new era of sustainable aviation?
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/can-shell-help-pilot-new-era-sustainable-aviation

• German aviation industry offers comprehensive plan for CO2 neutrality
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/german-aviation-industry-offers-comprehensive-plan-co2-neutrality

• Uber, JetBlue join Climate Pledge
https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2166779-uber-jetblue-join-climate-pledge

• JAL to use biofuels made from household waste starting fiscal 2022
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/05/business/jal-use-biofuels-made-household-waste-starting-fy-2022/

• Jet-zero: How aviation aims to clean up its emissions act
https://www.euractiv.com/section/aviation/news/jet-zero-how-aviation-aims-to-clean-up-its-emissions-act/

• Neste supplies DHL Express with SAF at San Francisco airport
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/17617/neste-supplies-dhl-express-with-saf-at-san-francisco-airport

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

Claims that Direct Air Capture (DAC) is ‘100% green’ are misleading. DAC will not eliminate a flights actual CO2 emissions, and will add additional CO2 if DAC uses fossil fuel electricity.

• Could carbon dioxide be turned into jet fuel?
https://www.wired.com/story/could-carbon-dioxide-be-turned-into-jet-fuel/

• United pledges to be 100% green by 2050
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/united-pledges-to-be-100-green-by-2050/

• United Airlines bets on direct air capture to reduce CO2 impact
https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/united-airlines-bets-on-direct-air-capture-to-reduce-co2-impact/

• United Airlines sets target to eliminate GHG emissions by 2050 – without relying on offsets
https://www.esgtoday.com/united-airlines-sets-target-to-eliminate-ghg-emissions-by-2050-without-relying-on-offsets/

• Researchers unveil new method for converting carbon dioxide into jet fuel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/31/jet-fuel-climate-change-co2/

Emissions to absolute zero

HYDROGEN FUEL

Burning hydrogen fuel still creates non-CO2 emissions twice as warming as avoided flight CO2 emissions, and generating enough CO2 emissions-free hydrogen will use more than all the renewable electricity currently generated.

• Airbus bets on hydrogen to deliver zero-emission jets
https://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/2020/12/04/airbus-bets-on-hydrogen-to-deliver-zero-emission-jets/

• Amazon, Shell, Bill Gates back hydrogen-electric startup seeking to power aircraft
https://www.wraltechwire.com/2020/12/16/amazon-shell-bill-gates-back-hydrogen-electric-startup-seeking-to-power-aircraft/

• ZEROe Towards the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft
https://www.airbus.com/innovation/zero-emission/hydrogen/zeroe.html