Is sewage the future of green aviation?
6/17/202613 min
The war in Iran has disrupted the global fuel supply. That has sent airline prices soaring and cancelled scores of flights. This got Short Wave host Emily Kwong wondering: Could another fuel source help take us to the skies? Today on the show, we explore the chemistry and cost of sustainable aviation fuel. Along the way, we highlight two initiatives to create a regional SAF supply – one in Washington and one in Pennsylvania.
Interested in more stories about the future of flying? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.
Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
This message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana. Carvana believes selling your car should be refreshingly simple. Enter your license plate or VIN, get a real offer down to the penny, and schedule a pickup on your time. No surprises. Sell your car today at carvana.com. Pickup fees may apply.
Emily Kwong· Host0:18
[short wave jingle] You're listening to Short Wave from NPR.
Regina Barber· Host0:23
Hey, Short Wavers. Regina Barber here.
Emily Kwong· Host0:26
And Emily Kwong, and today we are taking to the skies on the wings of cooking oil.
Speaker 40:31
Well, today Flight 100 is flying from London to New York on sustainable fuel.
Regina Barber· Host0:37
Okay, that's Richard Branson.
Emily Kwong· Host0:38
Yes.
Regina Barber· Host0:39
[laughs] Okay.
Emily Kwong· Host0:39
The co-founder of the Virgin Group.
Regina Barber· Host0:41
Was this the first flight run entirely on alternative jet fuel?
Emily Kwong· Host0:44
Yes.
Regina Barber· Host0:45
Wow.
Emily Kwong· Host0:45
Virgin Atlantic in 2023 operated a flight powered by biofuel and a synthetic alternative made from plant sugars. This flight was incredibly expensive, receiving up to one million British pounds from the UK government, all to prove a scientific point, that a plane can fully run on something other than jet fuel, which as you know, comes from fossil fuels.
Regina Barber· Host1:05
I love this 'cause what's getting us into the air now, it's not great for our planet.
Emily Kwong· Host1:09
No. At any given moment, there are thousands of planes in the air, and jet fuel is the only thing energy dense enough and cheap enough to keep that industry aloft.
Regina Barber· Host1:19
Mm-hmm.
Emily Kwong· Host1:19
But the war in Iran has put a damper on those economics. Ryan Speas, the managing director of sustainability for Alaska Airlines, is definitely feeling the pinch.
Speaker 51:28
We were on track