How to Make Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2023 — The Latch

People shouldn’t feel guilty for flying. ‘Cause while it’s bad for the environment, it’s nowhere near as bad as being a coal mining tycoon.

For instance, a flight from Sydney to London produces an average of 5.9 tonnes of CO2e per trip. Meanwhile, in 2021, Rio Tinto produced 31,100,000 tonnes of CO2e.

While this is just the way it is, it would slap if our flights became less carbon intensive. It would be nice if the magic of flight wasn’t tainted by the fact it warms planets.

Which brings us to a collab between Jet Zero Australia and Lanza Jet, as these companies are currently creating a more sustainable option for aviation fuel. They are extracting ethanol from sugarcane and plan to put this produce in jets.

Jet Zero Australia and Lanza Jet are currently undertaking this project in the north of Queensland. This is because a lot of sugarcane is grown in this area.

As Jet Zero Australia’s Ed Mason said, “We’re fairly excited about the opportunity for north Queensland.”

This Managing Director also said, “We have to get people to supply us with ethanol, and to grow the industry, we have to demonstrate that this is a feasible business, that there is demand for the products.”

“It’s important for us to do that by basing the plant up there, where we can show the longevity of this industry.”

So, how does the sugarcane industry feel about all of this? Whelp, they’re understandably stoked.

“For a long time, the industry has advocated for an expansion of the ethanol industry just in terms of an alternative, low-emission fuel source for motor vehicles,” said Canegrowers CEO, Dan Galligan.

“Growing an ethanol industry and [turning] ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel, that’s actually the ideal scenario.”

It’s expected that sugarcane ethanol could be running our planes by 2026. But, until then, please don’t feel guilty for flying. Unless you’re a carbon tycoon.