Antarctic operator White Desert has announced the next steps in its climate strategy to reduce emissions. From November this year, it will begin a rapid rollout of Sustainable Aviation Fuel across its entire air fleet.

Since White Desert’s inception in 2005, it has recognised the importance of offsetting carbon emissions and done so through a number of accredited renewable projects. Now, in a first for any Antarctic operator, it is delivering the first test quantity of 40,000 litres of SAF to Antarctica for this season’s operations.

“We do so much to minimise our impact in Antarctica, from building specially-designed camps to removing all waste each season, but the one area we couldn’t reduce was the fuel we were burning in our planes. All we could do was off-set,” says Patrick Woodhead, CEO. “With the advent of SAF fuels, suddenly all this has changed, and we’re delighted to invest in what is undoubtedly the future of aviation.”

In line with the Paris Agreement and the UK Net Zero target, White Desert aims to replace all Jet A-1 fuel it uses in Antarctica over the next three to five years. After the initial test period this coming season, SAF will be used for all flights within Antarctica to transport tourists to White Desert’s luxury camps and scientists to its research stations.

SAF is produced from waste oils and fats through a process that significantly reduces lifecycle carbon emissions, creating an 80 per cent smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional Jet A-1 fuel. SAF combustion also produces fewer particulates and sulphur oxides, greatly reducing the quantity of soot particles emitted. This is particularly significant in Antarctica as the black colour of the soot absorbs the heat of the sun, exacerbating snow melt.

Suitable supplies of SAF are currently being sourced from California, and while this is a long logistical chain, it still has a significant net reduction in total carbon emissions. As SAF production increases and becomes more widely available, White Desert will turn to a geographically closer source and look to increase its usage to encompass all aspects of its operation.