A team of aerospace specialists have launched the first in-flight emission study by using 100 per cent SAF on Airbus A350-900 powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine
19 March 2021: Airbus, DLR, Rolls Royce and Neste have teamed up to start an interesting project called ‘‘Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels.’ This project will study the effects of 100 per cent sustainable fuel on aircraft emissions and performance.
Steven Le Moing, New Energy Programme Manager, Airbus said, “SAF is a vital part of Airbus’ ambition to decarbonize the aviation industry and we are working closely with a number of partners to ensure a sustainable future for air travel. Aircraft can currently only operate using a maximum 50 per cent blend of SAF and fossil kerosene; this exciting collaboration will not only provide insight into how gas-turbine engines function using 100 per cent SAF with a view to certification, but identify the potential emissions reductions and environmental benefits of using such fuels in flight on a commercial aircraft too.“
As a part of the project a team of aerospace specialists have launched the first in-flight emission study by using 100 per cent SAF on Airbus A350-900 powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine.
Simon Burr, Director Product Development and Technology, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace added, “In our post-COVID-19 world, people will want to connect again but do so sustainably. For long-distance travel, we know this will involve the use of gas turbines for decades to come. SAF is essential to the decarbonisation of that travel and we actively support the ramp-up of its availability to the aviation industry. This research is essential to support our commitment to understanding and enabling the use of 100% SAF as a low-emissions solution.”
Both the flight and the ground tests will compare emissions from the use of 100 per cent SAF produced with HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) technology against those from fossil kerosene and low-sulphur fossil kerosene. The SAF will be provided by Neste and additional measurement and analysis for the characterisation of the particulate-matter emissions during the ground testing will be delivered by the UK’s University of Manchester and the National Research Council of Canada.
Jonathan Wood, Neste’s Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation added, “We’re delighted to contribute to this project to measure the extensive benefits of SAF compared with fossil jet fuel and provide the data to support the use of SAF at higher concentrations than 50 per cent. Independently verified analysis has shown 100 per cent Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel delivering up to 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil jet fuel use when all life-cycle emissions are taken into account; this study will clarify the additional benefits from the use of SAF.“
Dr Patrick Le Clercq, ECLIF Project Manager at DLR said, “By investigating 100 per cent SAF, we are taking our research on fuel design and aviation climate impact to a new level. In previous research campaigns, we were already able to demonstrate the soot-reduction potential of between 30 and 50 per cent blends of alternative fuels, and we hope this new campaign will show that this potential is now even greater. DLR has already conducted extensive research on analytics and modelling as well as performing ground and flight tests using alternative fuels with the Airbus A320 ATRA research aircraft in 2015 and in 2018 together with NASA.”
Airbus facilities in Toulouse have already started with fuel-clearance engine tests, including a first flight to check operational compatibility using 100 per cent SAF. This tests will be followed by ground-breaking flight-emissions tests due to start in April and resuming in the Autumn, using DLR’s Falcon 20-E ‘chase plane’ to carry out measurements to investigate the emissions impact of using SAF. Meanwhile, further ground tests measuring particulate-matter emissions are set to indicate the environmental impact of SAF-use on airport operations.
