The government in partnership with Airbus yesterday announced the launch of a feasibility study to develop a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) roadmap to advance the local production of renewable jet fuel.
The Department of Transportation, Department of Energy (DOE), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Airbus will conduct the SAF feasibility study in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines.
This follows the establishment of a SAF committee as part of the National Biofuels Board led by the DOE.
“This study will serve as a critical reference to springboard further development of relevant policies, and at the same time encourage industry stakeholders to advance economically viable SAF production in the Philippines,” Airbus said in a statement.
As a member of the ICAO, the Philippines is committed to achieving the industry’s net zero carbon emission target by 2050. To reach this goal, the nation will rely on a basket of measures: fleet renewal, disruptive technologies, operations improvement, SAF and carbon offset.
In support of the Philippines’ SAF roadmap and as a partner of ICAO ACT-SAF, Airbus will contribute to the country’s SAF feasibility study, analyzing country specific macroeconomic data, evaluating SAF feedstocks and production pathways, assessing relevant implementation support, financing and policies as well as drafting an action plan.
SAF brings an average 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions over the life cycle compared with fossil fuels, from production to end use.
All Airbus aircraft are already able to operate with up to 50 percent SAF. Airbus said it aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100 percent SAF by 2030.
Meanwhile, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) yesterday signed a partnership agreement with Australian zero emissions aircraft designer and manufacturer, AMSL Aero, to explore a new zero-emissions aircraft industry and provide the catalyst for a hydrogen production industry in the Philippines.
BCDA said in a statement the partnership involves collaboration and knowledge sharing to develop an ecosystem for low-cost zero emissions aircraft and hydrogen energy that has the potential to connect the archipelago of the Philippines by passenger and freight carriage air bridges, coupled with strategically located hydrogen production plants for clean energy production.
This will lead to the preparation of a feasibility study, which may include technical and commercial study of the project with potential developments within the BCDA’s properties.
AMSL Aero is an Australian-based sustainable development aerospace technology company that produces a world-leading long-range hydrogen-electric Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft, the Vertiia.
Vertiia is a next-generation aircraft that takes off like a helicopter and flies fast and smoothly like a fixed wing aeroplane at very low cost per hour. The aircraft will be a highly efficient long-range zero-emissions VTOL, with a range of up to 1,000km and cruising speeds of 300kmh.
