United Airlines Pours Millions Into ‘Decarbonizing Air Travel’ With Alternative To Jet Fuel

United Airlines On Tuesday, a search was launched to discover more Umwelt Sustainable alternatives to jet fuel.

The company revealed that partners like JPMorgan Chase (Air Canada), Honeywell, GE and Boeing have invested more $100 million in United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund. It is described as a “sustainable flight fund” by United Airlines Ventures. “first-of-its-kind investment vehicle designed to support start-ups focused on decarbonizing air travel by accelerating the research, production and technologies associated with sustainable aviation fuel.” This substance could be used as an alternative to jet fuel and reduce carbon emissions.

“Solving climate change is doable but it requires hard work and real leadership,” Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, said in a Press release. “This fund is unique. It’s not about offsets or things that are just greenwashing. Instead, we’re creating a system that drives investment to build a new industry around sustainable aviation fuel, essentially from scratch. That’s the only way we can actually decarbonize aviation.”

According to the United States Aircraft Association, aircraft contribute 3% of total carbon dioxide emissions. Data From the Environmental Protection Agency. Sustainable aviation fuel, also called SAF, is available. “made from renewable biomass and waste resources” And has “the potential to deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel but with a fraction of its carbon footprint,” According to a Report From the Department of Energy

United Airlines Announcement Last year, efforts to reduce carbon emissions in air travel were made by ordering 400 electric aircraft from Eve Air Mobility. This was done with a $15 million investment. United Airlines committed to investing $10M in 100 electric planes manufactured by Archer Aviation.

“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation,” Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures made the following comment last year. “We believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionize air travel as we know it and serve as the catalyst for the aviation industry to move toward a sustainable future.”

United Airlines was immediately questioned about the prudentness of spending resources to find an alternative to jet fuel. Joe Kernen, CNBC anchor, pointed out during an Interview Kirby says that renewable energy has been a major source of more than $3.8 trillion in the past decade, while fossil fuels fell from 82% to 81%. “This seems like you’re putting your toe in the water to say ‘We are trying to do something,’ but realistically speaking, when do you see any real replacement for the jet fuel you use right now?” Kernen asked. “What is a realistic number without just feeling good about doing this?”

Kirby replied by admitting that green energy transition won’t happen. “happen overnight” But, it is important to note that sustainable aviation fuel must first be commercially available. “We’ve got to start making the investment today,” He said. “I am certain that’s the only way to eventually get to an answer for SAF and a hard-to-decarbonize industry like aviation.”

United Airlines’ sustainability investments were criticized and then withdrawn amid backlash against the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance movement (also known as ESG), under which companies pledge to achieve outcomes such as reducing emissions or greater racial diversity, but not profit maximization.

United Airlines has committed to eliminating all its greenhouse gas emissions completely by 2050. “We must reach across industries to develop coordinated efforts to accomplish what must be our collective goal of carbon neutrality,” Kirby stated on a Website Information about the company’s environmental policies.