According toEuronewsThe world's first transatlantic clean energy flights will take off in 2023, the British government has announced.
The UK-US flights will use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a low-emission fuel made from waste materials such as used cooking oil. The UK Department for Transport says the flights usher in a new era of modern transport.
Travelers will experience clean flights by 2023.
SAF is produced from raw materials such as used cooking oil, agricultural waste, household waste, packaging, food scraps and textiles. When burned, SAF still emits carbon. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that SAF reduces the amount of toxic emissions by up to 80%. The main raw material of SAF is waste, carbon that has been previously evaporated.
Currently, SAF is mixed 50-50 with conventional crude oil fuel. The UK government will invest £1 million in any transatlantic airline that can provide 100% SAF fuel for its flights by 2023.
"If all airlines use SAF-fueled aircraft, the greenhouse effect will be reduced," said a government spokesman.
SAF is a sustainable fuel produced from cooking oil and waste.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the government would move quickly to test and approve SAF technology.
“This is the world’s first zero-emission flight, demonstrating the important role SAFs play in the aviation industry. They contribute to the future of clean, green flying,” he said.
