Gong Feng of China Aviation Oil: Certification is the "chip" of SAF and should be paid attention to
"Until today, the world has not found a green, low-carbon, sustainable aviation energy that can completely replace fossil energy." At the first CATA Aviation Conference Green Sub-forum held on November 4, Gong Feng, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and deputy general manager of China National Aviation Fuel Corporation, said this.
At present, the most important green and low-carbon aviation energy source currently being studied and used internationally is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). According to Gong Feng, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association, the European Union, the United States, and China have all set short, medium and long-term SAF application targets and aviation emission reduction targets.
Among them, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires that the world's SAF material will reach 5 million tons by 2025, carbon emissions in 2035 will not exceed 85% of 2019 levels, and net zero carbon dioxide emissions will be achieved by 2050. China's "14th Five-Year Plan" for the green development of civil aviation proposed for the first time that the cumulative annual use of SAF2025 will be 50,000 tons, and the use of 20,000 tons in that year, and the carbon neutral growth of transport aviation will be achieved in 2035.
The overall work situation is urgent, and there are some problems in the R&D and application of SAF in China. Gong Feng believes that the first is the lack of systematic research and overall planning of related work. "At present, there is a lack of systematic and overall arrangements for SAF fiscal policy, research planning, production planning, certification standards, application and promotion."
Secondly, SAF has difficulties in refining process certification and sustainability certification. At present, the SAF new process certification is mastered by the American Society for Testing and Materials, and it is deeply bundled with aviation equipment such as flight engines, which has a long process and high cost. The only SAF sustainability certifications that are globally recognized and accepted are Swiss standards and German standards. "I always think that these two certifications are the 'chips' of SAF and should be taken seriously." Gong Feng said.
In addition, Gong Feng pointed out that although the enthusiasm for SAF production is high in China, the production is scattered, the scale has not been formed, the production cost is too high, and the energy consumption ratio certification is also missing.
In view of these problems, Gong Feng suggested that we should improve the understanding of the arduousness and complexity of SAF R&D and application, and achieve top-level design and systematic research. The development of SAF adheres to the five principles of not competing with people for food, land and water, low energy consumption ratio and acceptable price, and strives to reduce production costs. Increase support for the construction of green and low-carbon aviation energy standards, especially the construction of certification standards, including the construction of standards for research, testing, evaluation, manufacturing, and use of emerging aviation energy technologies. Increase policy support for SAF research and production industry chains, increase research on aircraft engines and other aviation equipment, and other green aviation energy applications other than SAF, and increase international cooperation in green and low-carbon aviation energy.
It is understood that the first CATA Aviation Conference Green Sub-forum was hosted by the China Air Transport Association and undertaken by China National Aviation Fuel Group Co., Ltd., with more than 200 representatives from airlines, scientific research institutes and service guarantee units participating in the forum.
