The world has a “long way to go” before the aviation industry can decarbonise, a security expert has warned. 

Air travel contributes roughly 2% of the planet’s emissions but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) believes that passenger numbers will double between 2019 and 2037. 

In order to meet governments’ net zero targets, the airline industry has committed itself to using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 

SAF is made from captured carbon dioxide, waste cooking oils, vegetable fats and agricultural waste. 

Dublin Airport. Photograph: Leon Farrell / RollingNews.ie

It is not carbon neutral but it is significantly less harmful to the environment than burning pure fossil fuels. 

Still, the technology is very much in its infancy and retired Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Byrne said the vast majority of flights still operate without it. 

“IATA had expected that the production last year would be up to 1.5 million tons - which seems an awful lot,” he told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“In fact, it was only one million tons but even if we had that, it would be only 0.3% of aviation fuel.” 

Planes at an airport. Picture by: Edna Leshowitz/ZUMA Wire.

The IATA expects that figure will increase to 0.7% this year and has pointed to a lack of biorefineries capable of making the product as limiting its uptake. 

Mr Byrne said the world has a “long way to go” before SAF becomes a viable alternative but Ireland should be looking to play its part in the transition. 

“So, if you need it by 2050 - which is 25-years from now - we need between 3,000 and 6,500 renewable fuel plants - including ones we can make here in Ireland,” he said. 

“So, there’s a lot to be done in that regard because you can make renewable diesel and other fuels from other industries - as well as doing it for the aviation industry, which is crying out for it.” 

In the Programme for Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael committed themselves to developing “a National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap and support[ing] Shannon Airport as a hub for testing new aviation technologies.”

Main image: Planes are seen at Dublin Airport. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie