Air New Zealand and Government scope feasibility of making sustainable aviation fuel in New Zealand
Air New Zealand and the Government are to invest more than NZ$2m in two studies to consider the feasibility of producing sustainable aviation fuel in Aotearoa New Zealand. The airline will contribute around $1.5m in the project, while the taxpayer will chip in $765,000. The deal was announced on Friday at Air NZ’s Auckland head office at the launch of the draft Tourism Environment Action Plan, attended by Tourism Minister Peeni Henare. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is made from waste like forestry slash, municipal waste, or used cooking oils, but while there is high demand globally, there is limited supply. Burning SAF produces significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than fossil jet fuel, Air New Zealand says. The $2m-plus investment follows an earlier year-long process that invited innovators to demonstrate the viability of operating a SAF plant at a commercial scale in New Zealand. The airline, along with government officials, evaluated proposals from multiple international SAF producers, to understand what technologies are available globally, and whether they could be brought to New Zealand. Proposals from two United States-based companies will be examined in the next phase of the project: one with LanzaJet and another with Fulcrum BioEnergy. Air NZ said the next phase would evaluate the technical, economic, supply chain, and environmental feasibility of establishing and operating a SAF production facility in New Zealand. Kiri Hannifin, Air NZ’s chief sustainability officer said: “Our climate is worsening at a rate far faster than predicted. We all need to take immediate and drastic action to protect what we love, including our land, and all that depends on her. “So much of what we rely on in Aotearoa is based on our magnificent natural assets including tourism and food production. Air NZ has a significant role to play in transitioning our economy to a lower carbon future and flying with SAF is a key part of this transition,” she said.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2023-06-16/star/air-new-zealand-and-government-scope-feasibility-of-making-sustainable-aviation-fuel-in-new-zealand
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Air New Zealand and Government scope feasibility of making sustainable aviation fuel in New Zealand
Air New Zealand and the Government are to invest more than NZ$2m in two studies to consider the feasibility of producing sustainable aviation fuel in Aotearoa New Zealand. The airline will contribute around $1.5m in the project, while the taxpayer will chip in $765,000. The deal was announced on Friday at Air NZ’s Auckland head office at the launch of the draft Tourism Environment Action Plan, attended by Tourism Minister Peeni Henare. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is made from waste like forestry slash, municipal waste, or used cooking oils, but while there is high demand globally, there is limited supply. Burning SAF produces significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than fossil jet fuel, Air New Zealand says. The $2m-plus investment follows an earlier year-long process that invited innovators to demonstrate the viability of operating a SAF plant at a commercial scale in New Zealand. The airline, along with government officials, evaluated proposals from multiple international SAF producers, to understand what technologies are available globally, and whether they could be brought to New Zealand. Proposals from two United States-based companies will be examined in the next phase of the project: one with LanzaJet and another with Fulcrum BioEnergy. Air NZ said the next phase would evaluate the technical, economic, supply chain, and environmental feasibility of establishing and operating a SAF production facility in New Zealand. Kiri Hannifin, Air NZ’s chief sustainability officer said: “Our climate is worsening at a rate far faster than predicted. We all need to take immediate and drastic action to protect what we love, including our land, and all that depends on her. “So much of what we rely on in Aotearoa is based on our magnificent natural assets including tourism and food production. Air NZ has a significant role to play in transitioning our economy to a lower carbon future and flying with SAF is a key part of this transition,” she said.<br/>
