The Federal Government today hosted a roundtable at the Australian International Airshow to discuss the design and goals of a Jet Zero-style council aimed at reducing carbon emissions in aviation and achieving a sustainable future for the sector.
Jet Zero is a UK initiative that partners government with the private sector to introduce at least 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK by 2030.
The Avalon roundtable was attended by government, airline, aviation fuels, finance, research, manufacturing and other aviation industry representatives.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the roundtable was part of the Albanese government's determinaton to ensure the aviation sector supports the emissions reduction targets on the path to net zero by 2050, while remaining strong and growing jobs and innovation.
"We’ve recently signalled very clearly that we’ll establish a Jet Zero council here in Australia and I’ve just hosted a consultation meeting which included representatives of regional airlines, regional airports, including representative of general aviation as well, to talk about how do we look at developing a sustainable aviation fuel industry here in Australia," she told Australian Flying.
"A lot is happening. We heard from BP about developments over in Western Australia, and I think they’re incredibly promising. We’ve heard about the difficulties with feedstock, the difficulties with cost, and we’re really trying to look at how government can work.
"The aviation white paper definitely will include capacity for local development [and allow] us to consult widely. But the Jet Zero Council really is the body that’s been established to bring together all of the work in SAF and to try to see whether we can get a good domestic industry that is affordable.
"If we don’t, we’re going to be importing this fuel. It’s critical, particularly for large airlines, Qantas and Virgin, that they meet their net zero targets, and I also want to see the opportunities for SAF out in our regions, being able to produce feedstock, being able to look at how we can create a good income stream and maybe an export industry.
Whilst SAF is used purely in turbine engines, the minister said that all future aviation powerplants were put under the microscope, including those currently powered by 100LL avgas.
"There were certainly discussions about a whole range of things from synthetic fuels right the way through to electric aircraft. Rex [Regional Express] was talking a little bit about what they’re doing out at Wagga and the research there.
"There were discussions with the sugar industry about what they’re doing in relation to ethanol, so a lot of the early, preliminary discussions are about the future, but of course part of my job and part of the government’s commitment is to net zero by 2050 and we can’t get there without the transport sector and we can’t get there without the aviation sector also doing its bit, but the government has to help facilitate that."
The minister said that the work of the Jet Zero Council will complement the aviation white paper, which has a priority of how to maximise the aviation sector’s contribution to achieving net zero carbon emissions, including through sustainable aviation fuel and emerging technologies.