The aviation sector accounts for 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions and is facing growing pressure to mitigate its environmental impact. This thesis explores the different strategy for decarbonising the aviation sector, focusing on the critical role of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as necessary alternative to fossil fuels. It begins by analyzing several decarbonisation pathways, such as evolutionary technologies, operations and infrastructure improvements and alternative propulsion systems, underlining the obstacles they still have to overcome and the important opportunities they may provide. The focus then shifts to SAFs, with a deep analysis of their production processes, the different feedstock alternatives, the technical and environmental advantages and the economic impact. Despite their potential, one major impediment to their wide deployment persists: the cost difference with conventional jet fuel. This work explores the necessary options to overcome this gap and promote broad adoption of SAF by conducting a study of market-based mechanisms such as carbon pricing, Emission Trading System (ETS) and other incentives, analyzing their possible future implications. Furthermore, it focuses on significant companies and startup at the forefront of SAF production, highlighting their technical advancements and important contributions to the sustainable aviation ecosystem. By combining ideas from technological, economic, and commercial perspectives, this thesis highlights the importance of SAF in meeting the aviation industry's ambitious goal of net zero.
Il mondo aeronautico è responsabile per circa il 2% delle emissioni globali di anidride carbonica e si trova ad affrontare pressioni crescenti per mitigare il suo impatto ambientale. Questo lavoro di tesi esplora le diverse strategie esistenti per la decarbonizzazione del settore dell'aviazione, concentrandosi sull'importante ruolo che i Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) assumono come alternativa necessaria ai combustibili fossili. Vengono analizzati diversi percorsi di decarbonizzazione, quali l’impiego di tecnologie evolutive, miglioramenti delle operazioni e delle infrastrutture e sistemi di propulsione alternativi, sottolineando gli ostacoli che ancora devono superare e le importanti opportunità che offrono. L'attenzione si sposta poi ai SAF, con un'analisi approfondita dei loro processi produttivi, delle diverse materie prime utilizzabili, dei vantaggi tecnici e ambientali e dell'impatto economico. Nonostante il loro potenziale, è ancora presente un ostacolo importante che ne impedisce l'ampia diffusione: la differenza di costo con il combustibile convenzionale. Questo lavoro esplora le opzioni necessarie per superare questo divario e promuovere l'ampia adozione del SAF effettuando uno studio di meccanismi market-based, come il carbon-pricing e l’Emission Trading System (ETS) e altri incentivi, analizzandone il possibile futuro risvolto. Infine, sono riportate alcune importanti aziende e start-up all'avanguardia nella produzione di SAF, evidenziando i loro progressi tecnici e gli importanti traguardi raggiunti nel mondo dell'aviazione sostenibile. Combinando i diversi contributi da prospettive tecnologiche, economiche e commerciali, questa tesi sottolinea l'importanza e la fattibilità economica dei Sustainable Aviation Fuels nel raggiungimento dell'ambizioso obiettivo di net-zero dell'industria aeronautica.
The decarbonisation of the aviation sector: the role of sustainable aviation fuels
Scarpa, Caterina
2023/2024
Abstract
The aviation sector accounts for 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions and is facing growing pressure to mitigate its environmental impact. This thesis explores the different strategy for decarbonising the aviation sector, focusing on the critical role of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as necessary alternative to fossil fuels. It begins by analyzing several decarbonisation pathways, such as evolutionary technologies, operations and infrastructure improvements and alternative propulsion systems, underlining the obstacles they still have to overcome and the important opportunities they may provide. The focus then shifts to SAFs, with a deep analysis of their production processes, the different feedstock alternatives, the technical and environmental advantages and the economic impact. Despite their potential, one major impediment to their wide deployment persists: the cost difference with conventional jet fuel. This work explores the necessary options to overcome this gap and promote broad adoption of SAF by conducting a study of market-based mechanisms such as carbon pricing, Emission Trading System (ETS) and other incentives, analyzing their possible future implications. Furthermore, it focuses on significant companies and startup at the forefront of SAF production, highlighting their technical advancements and important contributions to the sustainable aviation ecosystem. By combining ideas from technological, economic, and commercial perspectives, this thesis highlights the importance of SAF in meeting the aviation industry's ambitious goal of net zero.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/217762