Aviation fuel made from animal fat and carbon dioxide from seawater

To reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft engines, the fat of slaughtered pigs, cattle and chickens is used to produce greener aviation fuel. Animal fats are considered waste, so the fuel produced in this way has a lower carbon footprint. However, according to a study by Transport & Environment, there is a shortage of slaughtered animals to meet the airlines’ growing demand for animal fats. For example, a flight from Paris to New York requires fat from 8,800 dead pigs, assuming all fuel comes from animal sources. Therefore, airlines may soon turn to fuel made from palm oil, with fatal consequences for the planet.

Boeing Company has signed a deal with Equatic, a Los Angeles-based start-up, to buy hydrogen produced by devices designed to clean seawater from carbon dioxide. Under the five-year contract, Equatic will remove 62,000 t CO₂ from the ocean and provide the airline company with 2,100 t hydrogen. Meanwhile, the Scandinavian Airline System will start booking flights for 2028 on electric aircraft. The carrier’s first three commercial flights will depart from Sweden, Norway and Denmark, with 30 seats available. The electric-powered aircraft will be supplied by the Swedish company Heart Aerospace.

Austria, France and the Netherlands are calling for stricter regulation of private jet flights. According to the analysis of the CE Delft research institute, the number of private flights in Europe increased by 64% in 2022 to almost 573,000.