Sustainable fuel: First aircraft with bio-kerosene launched in Zurich
For the first time, a plane has been refueled with a mixture of conventional and sustainable aircraft fuel at Zurich Airport. This option is available to business aircraft during the World Economic Forum.
At Zurich Airport on January 20, 2020, a business aircraft was refueled for the first time with a mixture of sustainable fuel and conventional kerosene. Departing business aircraft can be filled with this mixture for the duration of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Regenerative biofuel
Regenerative biofuels for aircraft, so-called Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), are produced from renewable raw materials such as rapeseed, palm or jatropha oil or from algae. They are virtually CO2-neutral and therefore "a promising approach for more climate-friendly air transport," according to the media release from the Zurich Airport Ltd.
According to the Media release this type of sustainable transport was made possible through cooperation with Jet Aviation and the Finnish renewable jet fuel producer Neste makes possible. Neste MY Renewable Jet Fuel is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent compared to fossil kerosene.
Still given obstacles
The SAF premiere shows that it is basically possible to establish a functioning supply chain. However, from logistics to import to local distribution, "there are considerable obstacles to overcome before an aircraft can refuel with SAF at a Swiss airport," says Emanuel Fleuti, Head of Environmental Protection at Flughafen Zürich AG. Joao Martins, senior director and GM of Jet Aviation's FBO Operations in Zurich, also stresses that it took months of preparation.
SAF are still around three to four times more expensive than conventional aviation fuels. "The first-time use of SAF at Zurich Airport should therefore also be seen as an impetus for politicians to create framework conditions that allow the availability and marketability of SAF to be improved," Flughafen Zürich AG said in its media release.
