Investigación de mercado de sostenibilidad de aerolíneas

The global aviation industry is responsible for 12% of carbon emissions from all transports sources and around 2% of all human produce carbon dioxide emissions. Aviation’s share of greenhouse gas emissions will likely grow in the coming years as air travel increases.

El auge de la energía sostenible en los viajes aéreos

Sumado al hecho de los crecientes costos del combustible, las aerolíneas están aún más motivadas a considerar los biocombustibles para impulsar sus aviones. Los fabricantes de aviones, científicos y académicos se han unido en asociaciones como el Grupo de Usuarios de Combustibles de Aviación Sostenible y la Organización de Biomasa de Algas para desarrollar el uso de biocombustibles sostenibles para la aviación.

Reducir la huella ambiental

Biofuels represent the most viable means to cut carbon emissions for airlines and remain the key building block in the airline industry’s goal of carbon-neutral growth. There has been much development in designs and material to improve fuel efficiency and other alternative energy sources like solar power remain in initial stages. Biofuels would not require modifications to commercial airplanes; they would just replace the current Jet-A fuel.

Some airlines like KLM, Finnair, and Continental Airlines have used biofuels on commercial flights shortly after international aviation regulators approved the use of biofuels in 2011. Other airlines around the world may likely follow suit.

Desafíos estratégicos

A pesar de la voluntad de las principales aerolíneas y fabricantes de utilizar biocombustibles, los factores más prohibitivos que impiden su uso generalizado son la disponibilidad y el costo de los biocombustibles. Actualmente, los biocombustibles para aviones todavía cuestan entre tres y cinco veces más que el combustible para aviones, afirmó Air Transport Action Group. Comercialmente, la industria de los biocombustibles está todavía en su infancia y es posible que los fabricantes no puedan hacer frente al aumento de la demanda.

Neste Oil the supplier of Lufthansa’s biofuel during its six-month test flights, could not produce the airlines required amount.  Aviation officials urged government during the July 2012 Farnborough Airshow to help implement policies to create a flourishing market in sustainable market in biofuels similar to initiatives that helped alternative fuels in road transport.

Los biocombustibles también pueden presentar desventajas ecológicas. La demanda de tierra para cultivar biocombustibles ha ejercido una presión adicional sobre la agricultura en las naciones pobres y podría desplazar los hábitats naturales existentes. También han surgido preocupaciones sobre las emisiones adicionales de carbono derivadas de la quema de bosques y pastizales para cultivar combustibles.

Oportunidades

There have also been concerns that using crops like sugar cane and corn to create biofuels could push food prices higher following the poor harvest in growing regions. To counter that assertion, airlines may have to look at second-generation fuels using non-food crops like camelina and jatropha. The industry is also investigating ways to develop aviation fuel from municipal waste, of which lack of supply may not be a problem as the megacities around the world can produce millions of tons of organic waste to convert into biofuels.

The aviation industry is increasingly seeing potential in biofuels but the widespread adoption of biofuels still faces many challenges, more testing, and government support before jet fuel consumption can be reduced.

Acerca de la investigación de mercado de sostenibilidad de aerolíneas

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