Sustainability In The Air – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we talk to Tim Boeltken, Founder and Managing Director at INERATEC, who shares insights into the innovative world of e-fuels and their potential to transform the aviation industry and beyond.

INERATEC is at the forefront of e-fuel production, developing modular technology that converts green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into carbon-neutral liquid fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Boeltken discusses:

1. The basics of e-fuel production, describing it as “liquefied electricity” and explaining the process of combining green hydrogen and CO2 to create various fuel fractions.
2. Strategies to overcome the challenges of high production costs and input scarcity, including modular production units and strategic site selection.
3. The construction of INERATEC’s Pioneer Plant in Frankfurt, Germany, which will produce 2,500 tonnes of e-fuel annually and marks the company’s transition from technology provider to fuel producer.
4. The current state of e-fuel adoption across various industries, with aviation lagging behind maritime and road transportation despite its long-term potential.
5. The importance of strategic partnerships in scaling e-fuel production, including collaborations with companies like Safran, Engie, and Synhelion.

Throughout the conversation, Boeltken emphasises the transformative potential of e-fuels in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors and the need for continued innovation and collaboration. Looking to the future, he expresses optimism about the scalability of e-fuel production and its role in achieving global sustainability goals, particularly in the aviation industry.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Amy Hebert, Chair of the Board and CEO at Arcadia eFuels. Check it out here. 

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Sustainable e-Fuels Startup INERATEC Raises $129 Million - ESG Today 

INERATEC and COPEC enter strategic partnership to spearhead e-Fuel availability in Chile - BNamericas

Safran and Engie New Ventures invest in Ineratec, a German startup specializing in carbon-neutral synthetic fuels - Safran

INERATEC and Clariant join forces for a cleaner future - Hydrocarbon Engineering

INERATEC and Zenith plan new e-fuels plant in port of Amsterdam - Offshore Energy 

In this episode, we talk to Billie Moore, Chief Executive at NZ Airports Association, who shares insights into New Zealand’s distinctive approach to sustainable aviation and the challenges of operating in an isolated island nation.

In essence, the NZ Airports Association serves as a central hub for coordination, advocacy, and knowledge sharing among New Zealand’s airports, with a particular focus on navigating the challenges of sustainability and decarbonisation in the aviation sector.

Moore discusses:

1. The critical role of aviation in New Zealand, serving as an essential connection to the world and within the country, reshaping its geography and allowing New Zealanders to “live global lives”.
2. New Zealand’s roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including exploration of electric aircraft, green hydrogen, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
3. The collaborative efforts between airports, airlines, and the government, exemplified by Air New Zealand’s Flight NZ0 project and the involvement of various airports in testing new technologies.
4. The potential of electric aircraft for domestic routes, with 60% of Air New Zealand’s domestic flights being turboprops flying less than 350 kilometres.
5. The challenges and opportunities in SAF adoption, including New Zealand’s distance from major SAF markets and potential partnerships with Australia.

Looking to the future, Moore expresses hope for continued international collaboration and information sharing, which will be crucial for small countries like New Zealand in addressing global aviation sustainability challenges.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai International Airports. Check it out here. 

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

NZ Airports Association 

Air New Zealand’s Flight NZ0, a decade-long journey towards carbon neutrality – Inside Tourism

Hydrogen Consortium launched to promote green air travel in New Zealand - Airport Technology 

Air New Zealand receives 500,000-litre delivery of SAF - Biodiesel Magazine 

Air New Zealand is first major airline to scrap 2030 emissions target - The Guardian

How do you decarbonise a major airport? - SimpliFlying 

Welcome to the first episode of Sustainability In The Air podcast. We launch the podcast on Earth Day 2022 with the discussion between Shashank Nigam, CEO at SimpliFlying and Tony Douglas, Group CEO at Etihad Aviation Group. 
 
 Going forward, trust will require airlines, airports and the entire industry to share how to build a sustainable future. No airline is doing as much as Etihad Airways when it comes to taking measures proactively on sustainability and also communicating about them. In the interview, Tony shares with us the journey of sustainability that Etihad has been on, including the stories of The Sustainable 50 aircraft, why he's betting on carbon offsetting as an immediate solution and the launch of the world's first green loyalty program.

Welcome to Sustainability in The Air, the world’s first podcast dedicated to sustainable aviation. The show is brought to you by SimpliFlying, the world’s leading aviation marketing strategy firm.

The realm of sustainable aviation is going through a phase of rapid development - from new technologies to sustainable aviation fuel. Airline, airport and travel executives often struggle to make sense of what seems to be a wild-West scenario.

It's about time someone took the leadership to help make sense and guide the industry toward best practices for getting to net zero.

In this episode, we talk to Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, who shares the company’s journey in developing the world’s first proven alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology that converts ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. 

Samartzis discusses LanzaJet’s ambitious target of producing 1 billion gallons of SAF by 2030. Elaborating on LanzaJet’s highly efficient and capital-light ATJ technology, he explains how it can produce up to 90% of fuels as SAF and the remaining 10% as renewable diesel. The process is also adaptable to various feedstocks, including waste materials, allowing LanzaJet to leverage local, sustainable inputs, and cater to the needs and resources of different countries.

Samartzis emphasises the importance of collaborations with airline investors and partners like British Airways and Southwest Airlines in driving the adoption of SAF. He also discusses the environmental benefits of LanzaJet’s technology and SAF, which include the elimination of sulphur, reduction in particulate matter, and potentially lower contrail formation.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with World Energy’s President & CEO Gene Gebolys who delves into the intricacies and future of SAF. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Sustainable Fuels - LanzaJet

Cleaner skies ahead? A glimmer of hope for airline industry’s clean fuel challenge - The Economic Times

LanzaJet unveils world’s first ethanol-to-sustainable jet fuel plant in Georgia - Bloomberg

British Airways, Nova Pangaea, LanzaJet project wins UK funding - Biomass Magazine 

How World Energy is shaping the future of sustainable aviation fuel - SimpliFlying 

In our first-ever bilingual episode, we talk to Preeti Jain, Head of Net Zero Transition Program at the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Jain provides an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in scaling up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help aviation achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. 

The interview is presented in two parts: English followed by Hindi. 

Jain discusses the current SAF landscape, highlighting the stark mismatch between demand and supply. Emphasising the need for greater SAF production, she estimates that a 1000-fold increase is required by 2050, amounting to roughly 300 new SAF plants each year. This rapid scale-up, however, is hindered by several challenges: inconsistent policy support, high capital costs and under-developed feedstock supply chains.

IATA’s strategy for overcoming these challenges involves a multi-pronged approach focusing on feedstocks, technology development, policy support, and collaboration across stakeholders. Jain emphasises the need for policies that encourage SAF production and adoption, and commends the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard as good examples. She sees potential in leveraging existing refinery infrastructure for SAF production, and expects SAF’s cost to decline over time as more facilities are deployed and technologies mature.

Jain also discusses the potential for SAF to deliver benefits beyond emissions reductions, such as improved energy security and rural economic development, particularly in emerging economies with large agricultural sectors. She also emphasises the critical role of collaboration across the aviation industry, governments, and civil society to build a thriving SAF ecosystem.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with IATA’s SVP Sustainability & Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Our Commitment to Fly Net Zero by 2050 - IATA 

SAF Offtake Agreements - ICAO  

SAF Deployment - IATA  

Net Zero Roadmaps - IATA 

Domestic air passenger traffic likely touched 15.4 crore in 2023-24: Report - The Economic Times

How IATA envisions merging economics and sustainability in aviation - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we welcome back Dan Rutherford, Senior Director of Research at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), for his second appearance on the show. Rutherford shares his insights on the latest developments, partnerships, and challenges in reducing aviation emissions and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Rutherford discusses ICCT's expanded collaborations with industry partners, governments, and non-governmental organisations to apply their research directly to various projects and initiatives aimed at reducing aviation emissions. He highlights their work with Google on the Travel Impact Model (TIM), which aims to provide consumers with accurate, precise, and transparent emissions estimates when booking flights.

The conversation delves into the challenges of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with Rutherford providing sobering projections and emphasises the critical role of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in bridging the gap, given the long lifespan of aircraft and the slow development of alternative technologies like hydrogen.

The discussion also touches on the concept of a frequent flyer levy as a potential progressive taxation method to fund the transition to net-zero emissions. Rutherford emphasises the importance of consumer awareness and action in driving change within the aviation industry. The conversation concludes with Rutherford highlighting the role of multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships between organisations like ICCT and airlines, manufacturers, and other industry players in driving the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future for aviation.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll enjoy revisiting one of our earliest episodes – also with Dan – who sets the stage for understanding the future of sustainable aviation and the trajectory airlines and governments need to follow to get to net-zero emissions. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

About - International Council on Clean Transportation 

Vision 2050: A strategy to decarbonize the global transport sector by mid-century - ICCT 

The ICCT and Google establish new partnership on lower carbon travel search - ICCT

Travel Impact Model API - Google for Developers 

Aviation climate finance using a global frequent flying levy - ICCT

Dan Rutherford on net-zero roadmaps and transitioning to sustainable technologies - SimpliFlying 

In this episode, we talk to Diana Birkett Rakow, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, who shares the airline’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040.

To reach the 2040 goal, Alaska Airlines has developed a comprehensive five-part path. The plan includes focusing on operational efficiency, fleet modernisation, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), new propulsion technologies, and the use of carbon credits as a last resort.

Rakow discusses the importance of employee and customer engagement in advancing the airline’s sustainability goals. She shares the airline’s unique bonus program that ties 10% of every employee’s annual bonus to achieving carbon intensity targets. Rakow also discusses the airline’s efforts to engage customers in sustainability initiatives by enabling the purchase of nature-based offsets and SAF credits, and offering loyalty rewards.

Rakow emphasises the significance of collaborations with companies like Microsoft and Twelve in developing and utilising SAF. She also delves into the airline’s investments in future technologies, such as their partnership with ZeroAvia to develop hydrogen-electric powertrains for regional aircraft, and the role of the airline’s venture investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures, in identifying and supporting innovations that accelerate the path to net zero emissions.

Please note: Alaska Airlines established its headquarters in Seattle in the early 1960s. The decade was misstated in the episode. 

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Delta Air Lines’ Chief Sustainability Officer Amelia DeLuca, who shares the airline’s collaborative vision for sustainability. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

ESG Environmental Social Governance - Alaska Airlines

Flying with purpose: Alaska sets new climate goals, including net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 - Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Twelve & Microsoft collaborate to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel produced from captured CO2 - ESG Today

Alaska Airlines, ZeroAvia to develop world’s largest zero-emission aircraft - Flight Global

Delta’s sustainability push is powered by a surprising customer insight 

In this episode, we talk to Daniel Rosen Jacobson, co-founder, co-CEO and Chief Business Officer of Elysian Aircraft, a startup that is developing a clean-sheet 90-seater battery electric aircraft.

Jacobson discusses Elysian’s unique approach to electric aviation, which focuses on a larger aircraft capable of carrying passengers over distances of about 800 km – longer than most current electric aircraft concepts. By targeting the busy short-haul market with a plane that can operate at costs competitive with conventional jets, Elysian aims to make a significant impact on the sustainability of regional air travel.

Jacobson also delves into the technical aspects of Elysian’s E9x aircraft design, which features a large wing with integrated batteries, and folding wingtips for airport compatibility. He also touches upon the challenges of certifying such a novel aircraft and the importance of collaborating with regulators and industry partners.

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Heart Aerospace’s CEO Anders Forslund, who discusses how regional electric air travel can transform the industry while addressing the key sustainability challenges. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Elysian Aircraft

Start-up Elysian reveals first 90 passenger battery-electric aircraft - Airport Technology 

Elysian unveils advisory board drawn from across the ‘aviation ecosystem’ - Flight Global

Electric aircraft may have more potential than we thought - Bloomberg 

Why Heart Aerospace’s electric aircraft is a gamechanger - SimpliFlying