The aviation sector has a great challenge: to reach zero net carbon emissions by 2050. And, faced with this scenario, it is looking for different alternatives to achieve this goal. As one of the protagonists of this transition, Boeing recently launched the Boeing Cascade Climate Impact Model, a data modeling tool capable of identifying the effects of a series of sustainability solutions to reduce carbon emissions from aviation. The tool was presented for the first time in Brazil during the Boeing and RSB Sustainability Forum held today at Amcham, in São Paulo.
“The aerospace sector is essential for society. It is what protects and connects people, enables livelihoods and trade, provides humanitarian aid and national security, and enables human exploration of space. For this reason, we continue to look for different ways to increase the sustainability of this sector. In 2020, Boeing created an internal organization dedicated to the issue, appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer, and incorporated the issue into its strategic values and objectives,” explains Landon Loomis, President, Latin America and the Caribbean and Vice President of Global Policy for Boeing.
During the Sustainability Forum, Boeing and RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) also presented the study "Feeding the Sustainable Bioeconomy - Creating impact through regional and multisectoral programs".
The programme, powered by Boeing, explored how the aviation industry can play a leading role in combating the threat of climate change, by generating employment, stimulating economic growth, developing rural livelihoods and protecting the environment. environment through the development of a sustainable economy based on biomass and circularity.
By providing guidance on the sustainability of alternative fuels, bringing together key stakeholders and highlighting the bioeconomy as a fundamental part of the just energy transition, this program has generated a tremendous amount of research, knowledge and tools to help direct investments. , public policy, market development and additional research to support the sustainable transformation of the aviation industry and the emergence of a truly sustainable bioeconomy. The program and report released during the event covered three countries identified as having great potential to become leaders in the development of sustainable aviation fuels and the bioeconomy in general: Brazil, Ethiopia and South Africa.
According to the executive director of RSB, Elena Schmidt, the project of which this study is part "presents a promising basis for efficient aviation fuels to help decarbonise, promote jobs and boost local economies without impacting pollution on food security." , on biodiversity, and on access to land or water rights”.
According to the consultancy Argus and Boeing's own analysis, global projections that consider zero emissions from aviation in 2050 point to a demand of around 23 billion liters of SAF already in 2030 and up to 450 billion liters in 2050. The investments already announced for the production of SAF add up to around 46 billion dollars, reaching the 2.25 billion needed in 2050. We also recall that the development of a SAF market must provide economic growth and job creation in the various links of its productive chain.
“Brazil has the opportunity to be one of the world leaders in the production of SAF: there are few countries that have the potential to produce 9 billion liters of this fuel per year using only waste. The partnership project between RSB and Boeing demonstrates this potential and goes further, bringing tools that help establish a technically and economically viable production chain in harmony with society and nature. Definitely a big step towards the development of a sustainable future for the Brazilian bioeconomy and, particularly relevant for the aerospace industry”, says Carolina Grassi, Manager of Public Policies and Innovations at RSB.
Boeing Cascade Climate Impact Model
The data modeling in “Cascade” also measures how aircraft fleet evolution, operational efficiencies, renewable energy sources, future technologies in aircraft development, and carbon offset measures can help on the path to decarbonization. The results obtained with the tool even show that the SAF should have the greatest impact in reducing carbon emissions because it can be used on commercial aircraft that are currently in operation - both new and older. Since many of these aircraft are expected to remain in service for the next 20 to 30 years or more, this alternative is essential to obtain positive results in the short term.
"'Cascade' examines the entire life cycle of aviation power sources - from production to distribution and use - and quantifies the carbon reduction capacity of major aviation mitigation strategies. The Boeing and RSB Sustainability Forum is the perfect opportunity to present the tool in Brazil, considering the topics discussed during the event and the fact that the country has immense potential in the production of aviation fuels (SAF) from different sources, such as sugarcane bagasse,” explains Otávio Cavalett, Boeing Director of Public Policy and Sustainability Partnerships for Latin America and the Caribbean.