RAF jets to be powered by sustainable fuel
Next time you dive into a bag of chips, remember that the oil used to fry them could very soon be used to power F-35 and Typhoon jets as well as Chinook helicopters.
Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force aircraft and helicopters currently use conventional fuel, but could use up to 50% sustainable sources in the future, after Defence’s changed aviation fuel standards came into effect in November 2020.
Sustainable fuel sources include hydrogenated fats and oils, wood waste, alcohols, sugars, household waste, biomass and algae.
As well as cutting emissions, using diverse and readily available materials such as household waste like packaging, grass cuttings and food scraps, will prevent waste being sent to landfill.
It is estimated that substituting 30% of conventional fuel with an alternative source in a jet travelling 1,000 nautical miles could reduce CO2 emissions by 18%.
Adopting greener technology in Defence’s aircraft fleet is part of the department’s strategy to reduce its contributions to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
As aviation currently accounts for nearly two thirds of fuel used across defence, the new standards will lead to a significant reduction in emissions and improve defence’s carbon footprint.
Defence’s move to allow up to 50% sustainable fuel marks a huge shift in global fuel consumption and opens the door for thousands of civilian and military aircraft to be fuelled with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs).
