Fiji Airways to explore Sustainable Aviation Fuel production

Fiji Airways to explore Sustainable Aviation Fuel production

October 7, 2024

Fiji Airways has announced it will consider the feasibility of producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel from local sugar cane and its waste products. Olivia Palamountain reports

Fiji's national carrier is partnering with the Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited (FSC) and Lee Enterprises Consulting (LEC) to evaluate the potential for establishing a comprehensive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production and utilisation model in Fiji.

The initiative hopes to leverage local agricultural resources, focussing on the use of sugar cane and its waste products, including molasses, sugar, bagasse and biomass, as potential feedstocks for SAF production.

Lee Enterprises Consulting, a global leader in biofuels and alternative energy consulting, will spearhead the technological and economic feasibility study.

Their team of bioenergy experts will assess multiple technical pathways, with a focus on alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) production, a proven method for commercial SAF.

The Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited, the largest sugar milling company in the South Pacific, will play a crucial role by providing sugar cane-based feedstocks.

These renewable and sustainable sources of biomass could serve as the primary input for SAF production.

Peter Seares, Fiji Airways' chief legal and sustainability officer, describes the project as "landmark" for Fiji and the South Pacific Region. He emphasises that the feasibility assessment could lay the foundation for the airline to meet its sustainability goals while utilising local resources, potentially reinvigorating the domestic sugar industry and creating new jobs.

The use of sugarcane byproducts as SAF feedstock offers several advantages, including reduced carbon emissions, high yield and productivity, and energy efficiency.

Sugarcane's significant carbon absorption capacity during growth contributes to a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when the resulting SAF is used in aviation.

Jason White, CEO of Lee Enterprises Consulting, says: "This collaboration is a testament to the power of partnerships in addressing global challenges such as climate change. By bringing together industry leaders and local stakeholders, we are not only advancing the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel but also promoting economic resilience and environmental stewardship in the Pacific."

The Asian Development Bank will oversee the project's implementation, ensuring alignment with international sustainability standards and regional development goals. The bank will also provide funding support and facilitate knowledge exchange amongst the partners.

This initiative represents a significant step towards sustainable aviation in the Pacific region, with potential benefits extending beyond the airline industry to local agriculture and the broader Fijian economy.

Separately, Fiji Airways has signed a preliminary agreement for Odys Aviation’s runway-independent hybrid VTOL cargo aircraft. Pilot programmes using these aircraft are expected to commence in 2025.

Odys Aviation’s "Laila" aircraft is designed in multiple configurations for cargo and, with up to a 400-mile range, could connect all of Fiji’s 330 islands.

Flights operated via these aircraft provide a low-carbon air cargo alternative and will open up new emergency medical routes that have, until now, been inaccessible because of infrastructure challenges.

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