Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative turns 10, tots up the successes

In Washington, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative turned 10 last week, and is “looking ahead to solving the challenging issues that remain for broad use of alternative jet fuel.”

The group said in the next 10 years it will focus on enabling industry production of SAJF volumes that help aviation achieve carbon neutral growth from 2020 onward, and pursuing advanced fuel production concepts like electro-fuels, solar-fuels, and tailored microbial conversion of low-cost feedstocks, that are still in their infancy, but represent great opportunities.

On March 11th this year, CAAFI celebrated with United Airlines, AltAir Fuels, Honeywell/UOP, and World Fuel Services as they introduced drop-in, sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) into regular commercial flights out of LAX. That is just the first of what we project to be several commercialization efforts over the next several years. The industry’s ultimate goal is to see SAJF become a primary means for capping, and eventually lowering, the total net greenhouse gas emissions from aviation even as the industry continues to grow and fulfill world-wide demand for safe, high- speed, highly-efficient transport of people and goods to all corners of the globe.

Other CAAFI highlights

• Collaboration with FAA, ASTM and aircraft manufacturers to validate and establish the drop-in jet fuel concept, followed by 5 alternative jet fuel approvals.

• Created and released the ASTM D4054 Users’ Guide, to assist entrepreneurial firms with navigating the fuel qualification process.

• Crafted the Fuel Readiness Level evaluation framework, and receipt of endorsement for the use of this evaluation methodology as a best practice by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

• Created Sustainability Overview and Environmental Progression frameworks to complement CAAFI/USDA Feedstock Readiness Level.

• Issued Guidance for Selling Alternative Fuels to Airlines in cooperation with Airlines for America (A4A), to help producers prepare for airline offtake discussions.

• Formed strategic alliance between airlines (via A4A) and the Defense Logistics Agency, signaling a “single market” for alternative jet fuel.

• Facilitated the signing of the “Farm to Fly 2.0” agreement between USDA, DOE, and CAAFI sponsors to accelerate the development of feedstocks, execute various feasibility assessments, and foster regional development activities in several states.

• Facilitated airline/fuel producer offtake agreements in cooperation with A4A. There are currently 7 publicly communicated agreements to date.

• Expanded cooperation with international counterparts in Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany, and Indonesia.
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