Southwest Airlines Continues To Support Sustainable Research In Aviation Fuels To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions ”Dallas Innovates

Photo: Stephen M. Keller / Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is showing its commitment to a healthier environment by relentlessly supporting the sustainable aviation fuel initiatives of the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Southwest aligns with NREL’s sustainable fuel goals as a global citizen who seeks to do the right thing for their employees through their performance and service to the planet, according to a statement.

NREL researchers are using a biorefinery process to harness energy from food waste and wet waste to create low-carbon, low-cost, high-performance aviation fuels compatible with existing jet fuel engines, according to a statement. This process could potentially support zero carbon flights.

Vice President of Supply Chain Management and Environmental Sustainability Stacy Malphurs said in a statement Southwest recognizes the important role that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will play in its journey to neutrality. carbon by 2050.

“By working with organizations like NREL, Southwest seizes a great opportunity to advance the crucial science that makes this technology possible and more available. We are delighted to be working with NREL towards a commercially viable SAF, ”Malphurs said in a statement.

Southwest has been working with NREL since 2019 to find commercially viable SAFs to integrate into their operations once available.

And NREL appears to have found a way to deal with wet waste and food waste from the United States, which could produce enough energy to cover 20% of US jet fuel consumption, according to a statement.

“NREL has demonstrated how to make SAF from wet waste compatible with existing jet engines,” NREL scientist Derek Vardon said in a statement. “It has the potential for a negative carbon footprint when diverting food waste from landfills.”

Conventional kerosene is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions for airlines, so the NREL SAF route from waste is an alternative that could reduce reliance on traditional kerosene.

In addition to Southwest’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, it plans to update its strategic plan for the next five years to expand its road network, launch access to the distribution system Global (GDS) for business travelers and accelerate efforts to modernize the fleet to replace its 737-700s with the MAX.

Southwest today announced its first quarter financial results, ending the quarter with net income of $ 116 million, thanks to $ 1.2 billion in compensation for expenses from the extended payroll support program. The company reported $ 15.3 billion in cash, well in excess of the $ 10.8 billion outstanding debt.

“Being a good steward of the environment is not only good for our planet, it’s also good for business, and it’s the right thing to do for our employees, our customers and our shareholders,” said Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines. A declaration.

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