Interviews with 3GF Participant

Turning the Skies Green with Sustainable Biofuels

• INTERVIEW with Mr. Martin Porsgaard, Director of Sustainability and Environment/Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)

Mr. Martin Porsgaard, Director of Sustainability and Environment at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) believes the aviation industry has an important role to play in the transition to a green growth economy. He is convinced that airlines can make a positive difference and at this year’s 3GF, SAS co-launched the Sustainable Biofuels for Aviation (SBfA) initiative with the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), DI Bioenergy, Sustainable Biofuels Network and Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster.

THE AVIATION SECTOR WORKING FOR SUSTAINABILITY WHILE SEIZING THE GROWTH POTENTIAL

“We need to let different decision-makers know that we are actively participating in the CO2 reduction agenda,” says Mr. Porsgaard. Scandinavian Airlines plans to become sustainable in the future and believes that using sustainable biofuels will play an increasingly crucial role. “The aviation industry is an important driver of global economic growth and so the benefits of sustainable practices will help contribute to value, growth and competiveness,” he adds.  

AN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE ON SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS FOR AVIATION

Martin Porsgaard thinks it is fundamentally important to put aviation on the agenda in other places than just within aviation circles. “This SBfA initiative makes it very clear to decision makers, that we have no other alternativesthan liquid fuel, as we cannot fly on battery or sun power. So we need to start using sustainable biofuels which is less of an environmental burden than burning fossil fuels,” he says.

“The major challenge facing us right now is making sure there will be enough feed stocks and resources to produce sustainable biofuels. There is a lot of competition with other sectors for biofuels. Governments will need to become more involved and start making decisions, while oil companies need to become more active, in developing biofuels production for aviation”, Mr. Porsgaard notes.

ENSURING A GLOBAL IMPACT

Martin porsgaard believes the initiative needs to be global to have an impact. “We need an international understanding, because the aviation industry is continuously crossing borders”, he says.

SAS does not stand alone with its high ambitions for the airline industry pursuing a green growth path. To bold its efforts, SAS has joined forces with a number of other major international airlines to set up an aviation fuel user group. “We need partnerships, because we ned access to production facilities all accross the world, so we can fill up on sustainable biofuels at our destinations”, he adds.