University of Limerick is to collaborate with Trinity College Dublin and Aircraft Leasing Ireland on an exciting research project focusing on the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI), the Ibec group representing the aircraft leasing industry, announced funding for the new research project during the sector’s second Global Aviation Sustainability Day Conference at the Convention Centre Dublin.
The four-year research project, a collaboration between UL through its Bernal Institute and Trinity College, will examine realistic avenues for manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Ireland.
The primary focus of the study will be to identify how Ireland can establish a sustainable and viable supply chain for SAF raw materials, while also proposing scenarios in which a substantial quantity of SAF can be produced efficiently on the island.
The study is set to commence in 2024 and will run for four years. It will be led by Associate Professor Stephen Dooley and Assistant Professor Mohammad Reza Ghanni of Trinity College Dublin, along with Professors Luuk Van der Wielen and Vivek Ranade of the Bernal Institute.
The project builds on engineering and energy systems’ work under the direction of Professor Van der Wielen on the development of sustainable aviation fuel manufacturing in various jurisdiction with leading SAF developers.
He explained: “We believe that Ireland has significant potential to develop a competitive SAF supply chain especially when it embraces the Atlantic Offshore Renewable (Wind) Energy Plan and a proactive Circular Bioeconomy Agenda as set-out by the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce in its July 2023 Report.
“This study, conducted in partnership between Aircraft Leasing Ireland, the University of Limerick, and Trinity College Dublin, will aim to help realise this potential by analysing realistic SAF production scenarios on the island of Ireland.”
Marie-Louise Kelly, Chairperson of ALI, said of the project’s launch: “Increasing SAF supply is a critical global challenge that is key to unlocking a sustainable future for the aviation sector. Our members are determined to help position Ireland as a leader in the sector by investing in research initiatives that will identify what’s needed for the scale-up of SAF. This research will give Ireland the opportunity to establish this leadership position in SAF production by mapping out the key data needed to establish effective supply chains.”
Elizabeth Bowen, newly appointed Director of ALI, added: “Ireland is well positioned to become a global centre of excellence for the production of SAF given our sophisticated agriculture industry and plans to harness large amounts of renewable offshore wind electricity. Not only will this be vital from a sustainability perspective, but it will also create significant economic opportunities for Ireland across the regions. The question is whether the details add up in the right way to make SAF production in Ireland both sustainable and profitable.”
Associate Professor Stephen Dooley of Trinity College Dublin added: “Sustainable aviation fuel is critical to delivering the industry's ambitious net-zero targets for 2050. If we are to meet the EU-mandated targets, we are facing a race to find locations and processes that can produce SAF – something that this research is committed to unlocking.”