The Department of Energy (DOE) is collaborating with the aviation sector and international partners in its quest to decarbonize the commercial aviation industry through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The initiative forms part of efforts to adopt alternative fuels in the transport sector particularly in the aviation industry, the DOE said.
SAF is an environmentally sustainable and chemically identical alternative to fossil fuel-based aviation fuel that can be processed from plant and used oil feedstock, such as forestry and agricultural waste and used vegetable oils.
“The use of SAF is intended to reduce the carbon footprint associated with aviation operations. This alternative fuel source, derived from renewable feedstock, holds the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring the highest safety and performance standard,” said Alessandro Sales, DOE undersecretary, in a statement.
“As a commitment to creating a sustainable aviation transport sector that will contribute to the broader national efforts towards a low-carbon future, the DOE is working to establish the necessary framework and regulations to support the adoption of SAF,” Sales added.
In the Philippines, a potential feedstock for SAF is coconut oil which is also used for biodiesel production, the DOE said.
The agency also acknowledges international initiatives such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that offers a harmonized way to reduce emissions from international aviation.
CORSIA allows the use of SAF derived from biomass or waste resources to reduce the carbon offsetting requirements of airlines.
Under the CORSIA’s timetable, participating ICAO member states, including the Philippines, are mandated to comply with the carbon dioxide off-setting requirements by 2024 to 2026, while the mandatory compliance is set for 2027 to 2035.
Under the Biofuels Act of 2006, the National Biofuels Board was established which is also mandated to recommend the use of biofuel blends in air transport considering the safety and technical viability, the DOE added.
Last February, a stakeholders meeting by the DOE, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine National Oil Co. and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) discussed the potential advantage of exploring SAF in the country in preparation for CORSIA’s compliance by 2027.
The DOE said the EASA prepared a proposal for the SAF readiness evaluation of the Philippines which is expected to be completed by December 2023. – Jed Macapagal
