Minimising the carbon footprint in modern life is a goal in which the European Union is a leader in today’s world, especially in the aviation sector. Addressing the challenges of decarbonisation in commercial aviation involves overcoming many obstacles. What is the current situation – what has been achieved and what challenges remain? Let´s have a look.
Aviation Decarbonisation: A Brief Summary of the Past, Present, and Future
We often talk about the decarbonisation of transport, including air transport, but it’s worth remembering what it entails. We define decarbonisation as the set of measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These gases are responsible for global warming and come from almost every activity carried out on the planet today.
These measures involve the entire chain, from vehicle manufacturing (aircraft, in this case) to the adoption of sustainable fuels such as SAF or the development of alternative propulsion technologies. And of course the operational efficiency of companies. But none of this makes sense without the support of regulatory policies which favour this transition. Let’s now look at what has been done and what remains to be done.
Challenges Met
Reduction in Carbon Emissions
At the European level, aviation emissions within the continent were 10 percent lower in 2023 than in 2019, which represents a significant step forward.
Our own goal is to reduce emissions by 10 percent this year, 20 percent by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050. We´ve achieved this by renewing our fleets, improving operational efficiency, and taking various measures, such as installing a self-consumption plant in our La Muñoza engine workshop near Madrid´s Barajas Airport.
Higher Efficiency in Air-Traffic Management
Apart from the obvious, the adoption of other propulsion systems and fuels (which we’ll discuss below), air traffic management is part of the emissions-reduction effort. And very interesting goals are being achieved in terms of efficiency and sustainability with the adoption of protocols such as continuous descent operations, to name just one. The EU‘s SESAR programme and as well as Single European Sky are initiatives that aim, among many other objectives, to minimise the environmental impact of our airspace.
Promoting the Use of Sustainable Fuel
We´ve written several times about SAF (Sustainable Airline Fuel) as one which significantly reduces carbon emissions on the path toward aviation decarbonisation. Iberia’s own goals in this transition are more ambitious than those of the EU, which implemented a regulatory framework to achieve climate neutrality (the European Green Deal) and, in our sector specifically, the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation.
A Search for New Propulsion Technologies
In parallel with the increased us of SAF and in keeping with the EU regulatory framework, the Alliance for Zero Emissions Aviation project has been in place since 2022, which has accelerated research into electric and hydrogen propulsion systems and reduced emissions from short- and medium-haul aircraft.
We are familiar with, for example, the ZEROe project being carried out by Airbus, the aircraft supplier to Iberia. Furthermore, the CO2 emissions standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will become mandatory in 2028, which will undoubtedly boost the development of these new technologies.
Challenges Remaining
Reducing the Cost of SAF
El anteriormente citado reglamento ReFuelEUAviation establece un mandato para los fabricantes (las energéticas) no para los consumidores (aerolíneas) en los países miembros de la UE de suministrar progresivamente SAF; de ahí la importancia de que, además de consumir cada vez más este combustible en detrimento de los de origen fósil, seamos productores de nuestra propia fuente de energía alternativa. Actualmente, y como es lógico imaginar, aún falta infraestructura para que el coste del SAF sea competitivo. Reducir su precio creando una red de producción y distribución impactaría positivamente, también en el bolsillo del pasajero.
Adapting Land Operations to Climate Change
Extreme weather events also affect flight operations. The next challenge for the aviation industry is to improve airport infrastructure to minimize the impact of these events on operations.
In addition, more and more European airports are announcing zero-emission goals, which is undoubtedly part of the desirable path toward sustainable air transport.
Impulso del I+D en la industria
We find ourselves at a key moment, in which the drive for clean technologies that will replace current technologies must redouble its efforts. Along with the essential support of institutions, international cooperation is another necessary support to ensure that aviation decarbonisation goals are met within the European Union and achieve a challenge which seemed impossible just a few years ago.