Virgin Atlantic is set to fly one of its Boeing 787 aircraft from London to New York next year using solely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), thereby becoming the world’s first net zero transatlantic flight.
The airline has received UK government funding for the flight to show how SAF could replace conventional jet fuel. It will work with a consortium that includes Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Imperial College London, the University of Sheffield, RMI, and ICF.
As a replacement for kerosene, SAF can slash lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 70%, compared to conventional fossil jet fuel.
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Virgin Atlantic’s flight is expected to be fuelled by SAF which has waste oils and fats, such as used cooking oil, as its core components. The use of 100% SAF on the flight, combined with carbon removal through biochar credits – a material that traps and stores carbon taken from the atmosphere – will make the flight net zero.
“For decades, flying from London to New York has symbolised aviation’s ability to connect people and drive international progress,”UK Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said on the new development. “It’s now going to be at the forefront of cutting carbon emissions from flying”.
Speaking further, he said, “not only will this flight pave the way for future generations, but it will demonstrate just how much we can achieve when we work together on a shared goal – bringing together some of the best businesses and academics in the world and led by a British airline,”
Story was adapted from environnewsnigeria.
