Embraer and Pratt & Whitney signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday with the goal of enabling the use of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The two companies will start tests on the ground and in flight with an E195-E2 jet equipped with GTF engines adapted to operate with up to 100% of the non-polluting fuel.
According to them, the goal is to zero CO2 emissions by 2050 by reducing the use of fossil fuels.
SAF is obtained from renewable raw materials, such as used cooking oil or municipal solid waste, and can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to jet fuel. Currently, aircraft can operate on up to 50% sustainable fuel mixed with fossil fuel.
“We are committed to continually enhancing the efficiency and performance of our products, and by further extending their compatibility with SAF, we will enable our customers to operate as sustainably as possible,” said Arjan Meijer, President and CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
“Pratt & Whitney has been active in SAF testing and certification for almost two decades. We will strategically continue to support 100% SAF flight tests for key customers that expand SAF uptake, including partnering with Embraer to test the E-Jets E2 aircraft on 100% SAF as part of their 2050 net zero emissions target,” said Graham Webb, Chief Sustainability Officer at Pratt & Whitney.
After using General Electric’s CF-34 engines in first-generation E-Jet models, Embraer once again expanded its partnership with rival Pratt & Whitney.
In addition to the new turbofan, P&W equips the Phenom 300 and 100 businessjets, and the C-390 Millennium airlifter, equipped with IAE V2500 engines.
