1SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FUELSFOR AVIATIONPhilippe NovelliEnvironment BranchICAO Air Transport Bureau© ICAO 20142“Basket of measures”CO2 Emissions TrendsAspirational goals© ICAO 20143Basket of measuresImprove efficiencyAircraft technologyAircraft operationsEconomic measures “Market-based Measures”Introducing low carbonfootprint fuelsSustainablealternative fuels© ICAO 20144Sustainable alternative fuels• To reduce the carbon foot print of the fuel• Without changing aircraft and infrastructure• Using “drop-in” fuels© ICAO 20145“Low carbon footprint” fuel Combustion emissions accounted as zero emissionsCO2 Example: biofuelsCombustionCrude oilBiofuelCO2Fossil CO2Neutral CO2(up-taken by plant growth)© ICAO 20146Life cycle GHG emissionsWell-to-wakeExtraction Transport Refining Transport Distribution CombustionFossilLand use Cultivation Transport Conversion Transport DistributionchangeField-to-TankBiofuel© ICAO 20147“Drop-in” fuels• Biofuels used in road transportation are notsuitable for use in aviation• Severe constraints in use on aviation fuels– Freezing point (- 47 °C)– Energy content– …• Compatibility with existing system “DROP-IN” fuel• Aviation fuels need to be approved– ASTM, DEFSTAN,…– First alternative fuels approved in 2009 and 2011© ICAO 20148Micro-algae Waste gasesOleaginous plants Catalytic hydrothermolysisTri-glyceridesRecycled oil Hydroprocessing (HEFA)Animal fats Yeast, malgaeHydroprocessingSugar cropsSugars FermentationCerealsEnzymatic Hydrolysis “Alcohol-to-Jet”Municipal wastesCatalytic conversionCellulosic plantsFischer-TropshMacro-algae LignocellulosePyrolysis / catalytic crackingResiduesDrop-in Jet Fuel(& diesel)ComponentsAlcoholFarnesenePathways to sustainable fuelsSimplified view of pathways for alternative jet fuelsApprovedApproved© ICAO 20149Example of biofuels potential GHG savings – 86%– 90%– 62%– 84%– 50%– 68%– 67% Source: SWAFEA* with no land use change Variation range (depending on cultivation conditions)% reduction / conv. kerosene© ICAO 201410Progress status• 2 alternative fuel pathways approved6 additional approvals underway at ASTM• First commercial flights in 2011More than 1500 flights by July 2012• First regular flights initiated in 2013• First supply agreements signed by airlines Feasibility is demonstrated, next step is todeploy© ICAO 201411In a nutshell• Potential for significant emissions reductions– Depends on feedstock type and cultivation, conversion process…• Emissions reductions achievable with existing aircraft• Benefits will depend on:– the availability of such fuels and the time profile of their deployment;– their actual lifecycle emissions reduction.• Challenges– Decreasing production cost– Investment in feedstock production and conversion facilities– Ensuring sustainable deployment Policy support from States is required© ICAO 201412ICAO’s Work on Alternative FuelsResolutionA36-22PromoteimprovedunderstandingWorkshopStates, financialinstitutions andstakeholdersRio+20: theICAO’s“Flightpath”InitiativeICAO SUSTAFGroupInput toAssemblyResolutionA38-182007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013ResolutionA37-19Rio ConferenceICAO as afacilitatorGFAAF Created© ICAO 201413Resolution A38-18 – Key elements• Development of coordinated national policy actions to accelerate theappropriate deployment of sustainable alternative jet fuels• Measures to ensure sustainability of the fuels that should:– Achieve net GHG emissions reductions on a life cycle basis– Respect areas of high importance for biodiversity, conservation andbenefits from ecosystems– Contribute to local social and economic development, and avoidcompetition with food and water• Cooperation through ICAO to exchange information and best practices• Need for increased harmonisation for sustainability© ICAO 201414ICAO’s Mandate from A38-18• Member States, industry, financial institutions and other internationalorganizations to actively participate in exchange of information and bestpractices and in further work under ICAO on sustainable alternative fuels foraviation• Continue to maintain the ICAO Global Framework for Aviation Alternative Fuels(GFAAF)• Collect information on progress of alternative fuels in aviation, to give a globalview of the future use of alternative jet fuels and to account for changes in lifecycle GHG emissions in order to assess progress toward achieving globalaspirational goals• Work with financial institutions to facilitate access to financing infrastructuredevelopment projects dedicated to sustainable aviation alternative fuels andincentives to overcome initial market hurdles© ICAO 201415Forthcoming activitiesAssessment of potential emissionsreductions from alternative fuelsCAEP Alternative Fuels Task ForceTrends AssessmentCAEP Modeling and Database GroupFuel productionCO2LCAStates’ Action PlansMethodologyfor fuel LCA© ICAO 201416Conclusion• Promising solution but many challenges to address• Cooperation among aviation stakeholders and with theenergy sector is key, in particular to addressing sustainabilityand securing access of aviation to sustainable fuels• International cooperation is the core of ICAO’s activities– Information/best practices sharing and dissemination– Global view to support decision making built on States’ contributions© ICAO 201417• Visit the GFAAF websitehttp://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/GFAAF/Pages/default.aspx• Read the SUSTAF expertsgroup report (available on the GFAAF)• Read Environmental Report2013 chapter 4For more information© ICAO 2014
