Rolls-Royce takes lead on project to investigate SAF effectiveness

Rolls-Royce is leading a project that aims to find smarter ways of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to increase its effectiveness and enable its role in reducing CO2 emissions, particularly those associated with contrail formation.

Contrail formation takes place when the exhaust fumes from an aircraft mix with the cold air and produce crystals clouds that can trap heat in the atmosphere and create warming conditions.

The benefits of SAF are that it reduces end-to-end CO2 emissions that conventional jet fuel creates and it is expected to play a role in decarbonising the aviation sector. Use of SAF is expected to increase with the UK’s SAF mandate coming into force at the beginning of this year, with 10% of it in fuel in 2030, and 22% in 2040.

The Quantifying Reduction in Thermal Contrails by Optimising SAF (or ‘QRITOS’) project brings together Rolls-Royce, British Airways, Imperial College London and Heathrow to puzzle out what smart SAF use looks like.

The project will pull together data from British Airways flight trials, advanced modelling, and satellite observations to monitor contrail formation following targeted SAF usage.

It hopes to demonstrate that particular flights can be prioritised for SAF use, focusing on where the greatest environmental benefit can be delivered, maximising effectiveness of current supply levels as they’re set to increase in the coming years.

A two-year project, it will come to a close in 2027, enhancing forecasting methods, understanding and modelling of contrail formation. Verification methods will also be developed based on satellite data.

Rolls-Royce conducted its own compatibility testing of SAF in its civil aero engine types back in 2023, following a commitment the company made in 2021 that it would demonstrate there are no engine-related technology barriers for 100% SAF.

Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager, Alexandra Herdman, said: “SAF is a promising solution with the potential to reduce aviation emissions by 70%.

“However, major barriers to SAF adoption are the availability and cost of the fuel. This project could go a long way in addressing these challenges by demonstrating how targeted use of SAF on flights can yield maximum impact, and improving future modelling techniques.”