In a groundbreaking study titled “Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels” (ECLIF3), new findings suggest that using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in commercial airliners not only reduces the aircraft’s carbon footprint but may also diminish the formation of contrails. This collaborative research, involving industry giants such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and SAF producer Neste, offers promising insights into the environmental impacts of aviation.
Recent test flights involving an Airbus A350 and a DLR Falcon aircraft, both powered entirely by SAF, exhibited a notable decline in the emission of soot particles and the formation of contrail ice crystals, compared to flights using conventional aviation fuel. According to Neste, the use of unblended SAF led to a “significant reduction” in these emissions, with a 56 percent decrease in the number of ice crystals per mass of fuel consumed. This reduction could play a crucial role in mitigating the climate-warming effects of these condensation trails, commonly known as contrails.
“The results from the ECLIF3 flight experiments show how the use of 100 percent SAF can help us to significantly reduce the climate-warming effect of contrails,” stated Markus Fischer, a DLR divisional board member for aeronautics. This statement underscores the potential for SAF to contribute to more environmentally friendly aviation practices.
Mark Bentall, head of research and technology at Airbus, also highlighted the significance of these findings. “This is a very encouraging result, based on science, which shows just how crucial sustainable aviation fuels are for decarbonizing air transport,” Bentall said.
The implications of this study are significant, suggesting that the aviation industry can look towards SAF not only for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions but also for lessening the lesser-known but environmentally harmful impact of contrails. This dual benefit marks another step forward in the industry’s ongoing efforts to achieve sustainability and reduce its ecological footprint.