All Nippon Airways (ANA) has partnered with LanzaTech in a bid reduce its carbon footprint, with the introduction of a greener fuel choice by 2021.
The agreement with LanzaTech will include the purchase of alcohol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
As part of the agreement, LanzaTech will use advanced microorganism-powered gas fermentation technology to create ethanol.
The firm then uses commercialising technology developed in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) that allows for the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
PNNL developed a unique thermocatalytic process for converting ethanol into ATJ-SPK. The first step of the process is to convert the ethanol into ethylene. During the second step, ethylene molecules are chemically combined to build the range of hydrocarbon molecules needed for aviation fuel.
The new sustainable fuel would be combined with the fossil fuel that's currently used on a 50:50 ratio.
Akihiko Miura, executive vice president for ANA, said in a statement: "ANA has always been guided by our values, and our decision to transition to sustainable aviation fuel reflects how seriously we take our commitment to the environment. Adopting this advanced fuel will allow us to reduce CO2 emissions and meet the ambitious sustainable development goals that we have set for the airline. At ANA, we seek innovative solutions to the most pressing problems, and we will continue looking for ways to reduce our ecological impact in order to create a better world.
Airlines are constantly trying to find new ways to be more sustainable amid a growing backlash about their contribution to CO2 emissions.
Despite IATA claiming that air travel only accounted for 2% of man-made carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, many believe this is higher, with more people estimated to be flying in 2036 than are alive today.