Quoted from the gizmodo page, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight carried 100 passengers and consumed about 500 gallons of SAF fuel. This alternative fuel consists of a mixture of fats, cooking oils and greases, which are produced by the World Energy company.
United Airlines says this fuel blend produces 80% less carbon dioxide than conventional alternative fuels. The local aviation authority has only allowed one engine to use environmentally friendly fuel, so the other engine is still using conventional fuel.
One engine of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 that uses environmentally friendly fuel was developed by CFM International. The aircraft’s engine, called the LEAP-1B, was developed by a joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines. (Read also; British Air Force Successfully Flying Plane Using Synthetic Fuel )
Quoted from the page today.in-24, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, who was on the flight said that the use of sustainable fuels or SAF is an important milestone to realize decarbonization in the aviation industry. (Read also; Garuda Closes Some Flight Routes, Pelita Air and TransNusa Will Take Over )
Meanwhile, GE Aviation said that the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) used by United Airlines is drop-in ready. This means that it can be used as a substitute for conventional Jet A and Jet A-1 fuel without the need for engine or structural modifications of the aircraft.
“Sustainable aviation fuels can be produced from 60 different feedstocks, including vegetable oils, algae, fats, waste streams, alcohol, sugar, CO2. The Department of Energy estimates that the United States has the resources to produce 50 to 60 billion gallons of SAF per year,” GE Aviation reports.
The Department of Energy says about 1 billion tonnes of biomass can be collected annually in the US, resulting in an estimated 50–60 billion gallons of low-carbon biofuels such as SAF. United Airlines says the Eco-Skies Alliance program has contributed to the purchase of more than 7 million gallons of SAF this year.
(wib)
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