Kids Explained: What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
Introducing the "Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)" Content Series for Kids
The Airbus Foundation has unveiled a new educational content series, "Sustainable Aviation Fuel-SAF," designed to engage children aged 8 to 12 years old in understanding a crucial alternative fuel that can significantly reduce carbon emissions.
This interactive series, available in four languages - English, French, German, and Spanish - includes a variety of activities, both solo and with an adult, that challenge kids to consider ways to make aircraft friendlier for the planet.
Throughout the series, children will learn about the impact of jet fuel on the environment and the need for alternatives like SAF. The content series outlines a way to produce SAF and encourages kids to think about recycling and reuse. It also asks them to consider why SAF is better than fossil fuel and to find something in their house that uses CO2 to grow.
The series is part of the "Future of the Skies" educational content series and is produced by the Airbus Foundation's Discovery Space programme. This programme aims to explain complex concepts related to SAF in a way that kids can understand, helping them to grasp the importance of STEM topics, including SAF as an alternative to conventional fuels.
SAF, or Sustainable Aviation Fuel, is a non-petroleum-based jet fuel made from renewable or waste-based feedstocks such as biomass or waste materials. It is chemically similar to traditional fossil jet fuel (kerosene) and can be blended with it and used in existing aircraft engines without modifications.
SAF is considered a better solution than fossil fuel for reducing lifecycle CO2 emissions because it can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel, considering the entire fuel lifecycle from feedstock production to combustion. SAF is produced from renewable or waste resources, which absorb CO2 during their growth phase, helping to offset emissions from burning the fuel.
SAF enables immediate emissions reductions without needing new aircraft or airport infrastructure, unlike hydrogen or electric options which are not yet viable for long-haul flights. Leading organizations like ICAO identify SAF as having the greatest potential for CO2 reduction in international aviation, supporting global aviation decarbonization targets.
In summary, SAF offers a drop-in, lower-carbon alternative to fossil jet fuels that leverages existing aviation technology while achieving substantial CO2 lifecycle emission reductions by using sustainable feedstocks and reducing reliance on fossil sources. However, challenges remain in scaling production and lowering costs to meet growing demand.
Join the Airbus Foundation's Discovery Space programme as we inspire the next generation to learn about science, the environment, and climate change, and to imagine a more sustainable future for aviation.
[1] Airbus (2021). Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) - Airbus. Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/innovation/sustainability/sustainable-aviation-fuel.html
[2] International Air Transport Association (IATA) (2021). Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Retrieved from https://www.iata.org/contentassets/b1e278f554834a579b6f1c30f1b3802f/sustainable-aviation-fuel.pdf
[3] Boeing (2021). Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) - Boeing. Retrieved from https://www.boeing.com/commercial/sustainability/sustainable-aviation-fuel/
[4] European Commission (2021). Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) - European Commission. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/energy/transport/aviation-and-sustainable-aviation-fuels_en
[5] International Energy Agency (IEA) (2021). Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) - IEA. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/sustainable-aviation-fuel-scaling-up-production-to-reduce-aviation-emissions
- This educational series, produced by the Airbus Foundation's Discovery Space programme, not only educates children about Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), but also encourages them to explore various aspects of environmental-science, specifically focusing on the role of technology in tackling climate-change.
- As part of the Airbus Foundation's Discovery Space programme, the SAF content series aims to foster an interest in topics like science, technology, education-and-self-development, and the environment, ultimately inspiring the next generation to contribute to a more sustainable future.
