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Projecte llegit

Títol: Assessing the feasibility of SAF adoption: a case study of a Southern European airline

Estudiants que han llegit aquest projecte:

Director/a: KULJANIN, JOVANA

Departament: FIS

Títol: Assessing the feasibility of SAF adoption: a case study of a Southern European airline

Data inici oferta: 15-07-2024     Data finalització oferta: 15-03-2025


Estudis d'assignació del projecte:
    GR ENG SIST AEROESP
Tipus: Individual
 
Lloc de realització: EETAC
 
Segon director/a (UPC): VILLARDI DE MONTLAUR, ADELINE DE
 
Paraules clau:
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, SAF, airline costs, carbonprint, environment
 
Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
The aviation is under a constant pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Among many different measures available nowadays, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is seen as a promising solution to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. While there are challenges to its widespread adoption, ongoing advancements in technology, supportive policies, and industry collaboration are paving the way for a more sustainable future in aviation. As the sector continues to innovate and scale up SAF production, it will play a crucial role in achieving global carbon reduction targets and promoting sustainable air travel. However, given the fuel costs still contribute a substantial amount in airline's total operating costs, the high cost of SAF could become a main obstacle in large scale application.
The project aims to assess the practical application of the SAF from an airline point of view. The specific objectives are:
1. Identify a single airline and examine its network
2. Identify the airports in the network which offer the possibility of purchasing SAFs
3. Extract the information about SAF prices at different airports
4. Assess the potential quantity which can be fuelled by SAF
5. Assess the implication of the SAF used on the airline's costs
 
Overview (resum en anglès):
The aviation industry is undergoing a transformative shift to meet stringent decarbonization targets, with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) emerging as the most practical solution for reducing emissions in the near-to-medium term. The European Union's ReFuelEU Aviation initiative has established ambitious blending mandates, requiring airlines to progressively increase their SAF usage from 2% in 2025 to 20% by 2035. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of SAF adoption for a Southern European airline, examining its operational impact, financial implications, and the substantial energy requirements for large-scale SAF production.

Through detailed scenario analysis, the research evaluates two primary SAF allocation strategies: a hub-centric approach that prioritizes major operational airports and a nationally focused model emphasizing Spanish airports. The findings reveal that compliance with ReFuelEU mandates will impose considerable financial burdens. SAF adoption increases fuel costs by €1.7 million for June 2025 and €20.5 million by June 2035, representing a 27% cost increase compared to conventional jet fuel. These economic challenges highlight the need for policy interventions such as subsidies or carbon pricing mechanisms to ensure the financial viability of SAF adoption.

A critical aspect is the energy-intensive nature of SAF production. Focusing on the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway, the most common SAF production method, the research demonstrates that producing one ton of SAF requires approximately 16,470 kWh of electricity. By 2035, the airline's monthly SAF demand would necessitate 323,597 MWh of continuous power generation, equivalent to the output of a 450 MW power plant. This substantial energy requirement raises important questions about the sustainability of SAF production, particularly if it relies on non-renewable energy sources.

The study provides a comparative analysis of potential energy solutions for SAF production, revealing significant differences in efficiency and scalability. While renewable options like solar and wind face challenges related to land use and intermittency, nuclear energy emerges as a space-efficient and reliable alternative. For instance, generating the required electricity through solar power would need nearly 3,000 MW of capacity spread across 6,046 hectares, while a nuclear plant could meet the demand with a much smaller footprint. These findings underscore the importance of carefully considering energy sources for SAF production.

This research provides a comprehensive framework for airlines and policymakers, highlighting the critical interplay between operational strategies, economic viability, and energy sustainability in achieving meaningful decarbonization. The findings offer valuable insights for the broader aviation sector as it works toward meeting its climate commitments while maintaining operational efficiency and financial stability.

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