A Major Step Towards Green Aviation
The aviation industry is undergoing a major transformation in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and make air transport more sustainable. Spain has already begun using bio-kerosene produced from used cooking oil as an alternative to traditional aviation fuels. This development marks an important step towards reducing pollution and increasing sustainability in the sector.
How Does Spain Produce Bio-Kerosene from Cooking Oil?
The processing of used cooking oil to create bio-kerosene takes place in refineries that have been adapted to produce renewable fuels. One of the leading Spanish companies in this field is CEPSA, which has begun producing biofuels for aviation as part of its commitment to clean energy. This process involves filtering, cleaning and processing the oil to create a fuel that can be used in aircraft without the need for technical modifications to their engines.
This type of biofuel is known as SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) and can be blended with traditional kerosene to significantly reduce carbon emissions. According to analyses, the use of bio-kerosene could reduce carbon pollution by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels.
Emirates Investment in Green Aviation Energy
One of the main supporters of this transition in Spain is ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company), the national oil company of the United Arab Emirates. ADNOC has invested in projects to develop biofuels in Europe and aims to become a leader in this new industry. These investments come as part of the Emirates’ global strategy to diversify energy sources and enter the sustainable fuels market.
Spain is one of the first countries in Europe to widely implement this technology, aiming to become a hub for the production and use of SAF. The Spanish government and the European Union are encouraging the use of biofuels to meet carbon emission targets and reduce the environmental impact of aviation.
Why Is This Development Important?
Aviation is one of the most polluting sectors globally, contributing around 2-3% of total CO₂ emissions. Until now, options to make this sector cleaner have been limited. Electrification of aircraft is still in the experimental stages and could take decades to fully implement. For this reason, biofuels are the fastest and most feasible solution to reduce pollution in aviation.
Using bio-kerosene from used cooking oil has several advantages:
- It reduces dependence on fossil fuels, reducing pollution and volatile oil prices.
- Helps in waste management, turning used oil into a valuable energy source.
- Is compatible with existing infrastructure, meaning it can be used immediately without major investments in changing aircraft engines.
Will We Have Fully Biofueled Flights?
Currently, bio-kerosene is blended with regular kerosene to ensure optimal performance of aircraft engines. However, experts predict that in the next decade, the percentage of biofuels in aviation will increase significantly. The EU has set mandatory targets for the use of SAF, requiring that by 2030, at least 10% of aviation fuel be sustainable, and this percentage is expected to increase in the following years.
The use of bio-kerosene from cooking oil in Spain is a major step towards sustainable aviation. With the support of powerful investors like ADNOC and European governments, this technology could become the standard of the future for low-impact flights.
This development shows that the transition to clean energy is no longer a distant idea, but a reality that is happening now. If this trend continues, we will soon have flights that no longer pollute the atmosphere to the same extent as today, making the world a cleaner and more sustainable place.