The U.S. transportation sector, including cars, trucks, airplanes, ships, and trains, accounts for 34% of the nation’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a significant driver of climate change. While the commercial aviation industry is an important con
October 31, 2023
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The U.S. transportation sector, including cars, trucks, airplanes, ships, and trains, accounts for 34% of the nation’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a significant driver of climate change. While the commercial aviation industry is an important contributor to the U.S. economy, it is also a considerable source (approximately 2%) of domestic GHG emissions.
In an article published in Open Access Government, Dr. Reyhaneh Shenassa, chief engineer at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), explains how U.S. sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will reduce aviation carbon emissions and details what DOE is achieving to support the goals to deliver a clean energy future and economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.
To assist in the decarbonization of the aviation industry, the U.S. government has launched several government-wide initiatives, such as the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge to generate at least 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030, and 35 billion gallons by 2050 – enough to meet 100% of annual U.S. aviation fuel demand. The SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap provides an outline of actions by U.S. government agencies to support stakeholders in realizing the challenge goals. Other initiatives include the Clean Fuels & Products Shot™, part of the DOE Energy Earthshots™ initiative, which supports the development of sustainable feedstocks and conversion technologies to produce crucial fuels and carbon-based products in hard-to-decarbonize sectors, and funding SAF research and development (R&D) through funding opportunities.
Read the Open Access Government article to learn how BETO is leveraging national laboratory R&D expertise to help build a successful SAF bioeconomy.
Dr. Reyhaneh Shenassa is Chief Engneer in the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).