Track: Environmental Engineering

Abstract

The aviation industry has experienced high growth in recent years and is projected to continue to increase rapidly in the future. As a result, it is also one of the world’s fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Whilst this industry has focused on fuel and operational efficiency, more still needs to be done to further limit the negative impact it is having on the planet. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is being investigated as an alternative fuel and uses sources like biomass, which have lower GHG emissions. In South Africa, there exists an opportunity for organic waste and alien invasive plants (IAPs) to be used as a biomass source for SAF. However, no research on the establishment of a supply chain for using biomass to produce SAF in this country could be located. A supply chain design and cost analysis was undertaken to ascertain whether biomass, to produce SAF, is feasible in South Africa