Jet Zero Council takes off

THE Federal Government has confirmed plans for the country to set up an Australian Jet Zero Council to support the local aviation industry reach net zero emissions by 2050.

To be modelled on overseas versions such as the Jet Zero Council in the UK and the Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels in Canada, Australia’s equivalent will be charged with advancing the local production of Sustainable Air Fuel (SAF) in order to meet key sustainability goals and reduce the industry’s reliance on increasingly expensive fossil fuels.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, made the announcement this week at the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Breakfast, stating the Council would encourage more innovation and enterprise in green fuel manufacturing.

“The reality is - particularly in Australia - we love to fly, but we also ‘need’ to fly... and if we are to play our part, we need to make flying sustainable,” King said.

“As a nation more dependent on aviation than almost any other, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to drive change,” she added.

News of the Council’s creation follows the establishment of an SAF fund by Qantas and Airbus last month (TD 20 Jun), as well as plans put forward by the Qld Government in Apr for a $500 million SAF plant in Gladstone.

MEANWHILE this week BP announced it will start producing SAF in Australia by 2025, revealing plans to convert one of its oil refineries in Perth to produce renewable fuels.

BP has not yet disclosed what volume it plans to produce at the facility, but APAC VP Lucy Nation said output would depend on local market demand.