Virgin Atlantic and partners to ACT on SAF expansion

Virgin Atlantic has joined leading airline players including Air France KLM, Delta and the Boston Consulting Group in forming the Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT).

This new non-profit organisation aims to accelerate breakthroughs in emerging technologies to decarbonise aviation.

As the aviation sector focuses on decarbonisation, new solutions will be required to reach net zero by 2050 and to scale up sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to meet a 10% SAF target by 2030.

ACT will stimulate innovation in the next generation of technologies, principally focussed on critical medium-term solutions, such as synthetic fuel and direct air capture.

Over time, the portfolio will expand to include more near-term solutions, such as emerging bio-based sustainable aviation fuel pathways, and long-term solutions, such as hydrogen technologies.

ACT’s mission will be supported by an innovation network and a collaboration forum to help accelerate innovation and expedite adoption.

Shai Weiss, CEO at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We are proud to be founding members of the Aviation Climate Taskforce.

“Working with industry partners to accelerate technological innovation and reduce carbon emissions over the next 30 years. We strongly echo the need for a portfolio approach and continued collaboration across the energy and aviation value chains. Through its focus on breakthrough technologies, the Aviation Climate Taskforce, will support near and medium-term innovations in emerging SAF pathways, as well as longer term breakthroughs such as electric and hydrogen flight.”

Earlier this month, Virgin Atlantic announced new carbon targets as part of a renewed mission to achieve net zero by 2050.

The targets include increased fleet efficiency and committing to the use of 10% SAF in 2030. biofuels-news.com