An exploratory evaluation of business perspectives on sustainable aviation fuels

Abstract

One of the major emitters of CO2 is the aviation industry which keeps growing. A solution to reduce carbon emissions is to focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) such as biofuels or synthetic fuels or to focus on sustainable alternative technologies such as electric-powered or hydrogen-powered aircraft. A literature review is conducted that indicates a lack of scientific knowledge regarding factors on social feasibility of sustainable aviation technologies in the industry. This resulted in the research question: What are the motivations, commitments, and beliefs of aviation stakeholders with respect to promising sustainable aviation technologies? The research used a qualitative exploratory research approach using primary data collecting consisting of semi-structured interviews held with relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry. Exploratory research on the different sustainable technologies has indicated that biofuels are currently the only commercially available SAF, but require feedstock. Therefore, synthetic fuels based on captured CO2 with green hydrogen has currently the most potential for aviation although it is very energy-demanding, it still requires development, and it has an expensive production process.
Based on scientific literature, a conceptual framework is constructed from innovation and business theories on why motivations, commitments, and beliefs are relevant for adoption and whether there are examples in literature. The conceptual framework visualizes the coherence of the theories and presents potential adoption factors but the combination of theories lacked specification, degree of importance, and a concise list of all relevant adoption factors reflected by the industry. Therefore will this research as a relevant scientific contribution, with the use of the conceptual framework, explore and specify relevant motivations, commitments, and beliefs in the industry toward adopting sustainable aviation innovations into the current technological regime.
The interviews that have been held with stakeholders have resulted in multiple specified types of adoption factors regarding motivations, commitment, and beliefs. Within these types are factors determined on their importance as well as factors that can be stated as new interesting knowledge. Based on these factors, the research concludes that over the last couple of years sustainable awareness is increasing a lot and therefore it is one of the most important motivations to start adopting SAF. SAF is becoming more widely known and it is seen that momentum for sustainable transition is being built in the industry. Nevertheless, the research can conclude the implementation of regulations is strongly demanded to create motivation for adoption in the industry. The industry explicitly claims that they require the implementation of blending mandates that cause pressure which is needed to motivate businesses to already start adopting SAF.
The main recommendations to put on the scientific agenda are to do additional similar research including more European countries or on other continents. For policymakers, they need to lay focus on the development of regulations that stimulate the adoption of SAF. For the industry, this research recommends using the specifications of the adoption factors at the negotiation table or as advice for firms as a supportive base to start adopting SAF