Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): The Future of Green Aviation
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel, derived from renewable resources like waste oils, agricultural residues, municipal waste, or algae. SAF offers a potential reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional aviation fuel.
Production Pathways:
SAF can be produced through several advanced technological processes, including:
- Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA): Conversion of waste oils or fats into jet fuel through hydrogenation.
- Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Utilizing syngas from biomass gasification to produce synthetic hydrocarbons.
- Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ): Fermentation-derived alcohols like ethanol or isobutanol are upgraded to jet fuel.
Applications in Aviation:
- Commercial Aviation: SAF can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used without modifying existing aircraft engines, ensuring compatibility with current infrastructure.
- Military Aviation: SAF provides a sustainable solution for high-performance aircraft, reducing the carbon footprint of defence operations.
- Decarbonizing Supply Chains: As airlines increasingly seek to meet global emissions standards, SAF adoption is key to achieving compliance and sustainability goals.
Nuberg Green’s Role in Advancing SAF:
As an engineering leader, Nuberg Green is poised to support SAF initiatives with:
- Plant Engineering and Design: Custom SAF production facilities with optimized feedstock utilization and high production efficiency.
- Technology Expertise: Integration of advanced chemical and biological pathways to produce SAF.
- Sustainability Consulting: Assisting aviation clients in navigating regulatory frameworks and achieving green certifications.
- End-to-End Solutions: From feasibility studies to operational support, ensuring seamless SAF adoption.
| Sl No. | Feedstock | Process to Make Usable | Availability | Methane Yield | Fertilizer Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Dung |
- Anaerobic Digestion: Converts dung into biogas through microbial fermentation. - Composting: Produces nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. |
Widely available in rural and semi-rural areas with cattle farming. | 20-60 m³ of biogas per ton (methane content ~50-70%) | 300-500 kg of organic fertilizer per ton of cow dung |
| 2 | Press Mud |
- Bio-CNG Production: Methane-enrichment of biogas for use as compressed fuel. - Distillery Effluent Treatment: Anaerobic digestion for biogas and power generation. |
Abundantly available as a by-product of sugar mills in sugarcane farming regions. | 50-70 m³ of biogas per ton (methane content ~50-60%) | Not specified for direct fertilizer. |
| 3 | Spent Wash |
- Distillery Effluent Treatment: Anaerobic digestion or gasification for biogas and power generation. - Fertilizer Production: Used as liquid fertilizer. |
Readily available from distilleries, especially in sugarcane-producing regions. | 100-200 m³ of biogas per ton (methane content ~55%) | 1-2 kg of fertilizer per 1,000 liters of spent wash |
| 4 | Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) |
- Waste-to-Energy: Incineration, gasification, or anaerobic digestion for power generation. - Composting: Organic fraction processed into compost. |
Highly available in urban areas due to growing municipal waste volumes. | 50-100 m³ of biogas per ton of organic waste (methane content ~50%) | 250-500 kg of compost per ton of organic waste |
| 5 | Crop Residue | - Pelletization/Torrefaction: Converts residue into high-energy biomass pellets for combustion or co-firing. | Seasonal availability from agricultural regions, often post-harvest. | 150-300 m³ of syngas per ton of residue | 400-500 kg of biomass pellets per ton of crop residue |
| 6 | Napier Grass | - Anaerobic Digestion: Converts grass into biogas. | Grown as a dedicated energy crop in tropical and subtropical regions. | 60-80 m³ of biogas per ton (methane content ~60%) | 300-500 kg of organic fertilizer per ton of Napier Grass |