Carbon offsets (or credits) are investments in projects that either reduce or capture greenhouse gases. When you are unable to reduce your own carbon emissions, credits may be purchased to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gases in other sectors. Through the purchase and surrender of carbon credits, you can effectively offset and negate your carbon emissions when you are unable to reduce or eliminate your carbon footprint.

Project quality is important when electing to balance your carbon emissions. The American Carbon Registry, Verified Carbon Standard, Gold Standard, Climate Action Reserve, and Canadian Standards Association, are examples of the standards used to ensure quality carbon offsets are offered to you. These standards ensure the legitimacy of the offsets and makes certain that the offsets could not have been generated without investment in the offset project.

Shockwave Aviation sources the offsets directly from project developers and retailers, offering the highest of quality.

Shockwave Aviation will ensure your full compliance with aviation’s emissions regulations, domestic and international. We’ll develop your monitoring programs, calculate your emissions in accordance with the regulations, create and submit your reports, obtain verification through third parties (when required), setup carbon brokerage/holding accounts, and broker the purchase and surrender of carbon offsets (credits) for regulatory compliance.

For operators that wish to offset all emissions, and not those required for regulatory compliance, we can source carbon offsets through a variety of projects to ensure your department’s footprint is 100% carbon neutral.

Offset projects come in a variety of forms. Common projects focus on preventing the release of carbon dioxide and methane gas. Carbon dioxide is mainly produced from the burning of fossil fuels and represents 80% of the greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere. Methane represents 10% of the greenhouse gases but traps 84 times more solar energy than CO2 in the initial 20 years following its release. Many projects that capture methane will repurpose it to create clean electricity.

Examples of projects:

Landfills - landfill projects capture methane gas from sealed landfills.

Coal Mines - abandoned coal mine projects capture methane gas that naturally escapes mine shafts.

Farms - anaerobic digesters capture methane gas from animal waste and the material is also converted into fertilizers and other products.

Wind - wind projects produce clean electricity in lieu of burning fossil fuels or coal. Electricity produced by wind reduces the need for CO2 producing generators.

Forest Protection - forests in areas of intensive harvesting are protected, allowing the trees and soil to continue to store CO2.

Energy Efficiency - large freight transporters have created processes and infrastructure to dramatically reduce CO2, improving safety and overall air quality.

One metric ton of jet fuel produces approximately 3.15 tons of carbon dioxide. The most accurate calculation accounts for actual fuel burn and incorporates fuel density in the equation. This method is most accurate, but more onerous and intense.

ETS and CORSIA allow for the use of fuel burn and carbon footprint estimation tools. As part of our process of creating and submitting your monitoring plan to the governing agency, we will develop the procedures for compliance with the respective program(s). The estimation tools calculate fuel burns using aircraft profiles and great circle distance. The calculators simplify regulatory compliance, negating the need for robust, time consuming fuel density calculations.

Global climate change is the most obvious reason to voluntarily balance your carbon footprint. Corporations and individuals are modifying the way they do business and proactively contributing to projects to effect positive change well in advance of slow moving regulatory initiatives. There are scenarios whereby you will find yourself fully compliant with carbon emissions reporting and offsetting regulations without being required to purchase and surrender carbon offsets.

Aside from the obvious environment concerns, corporations are motivated by a strong obligation to their customers and shareholders. Private aviation has come under public scrutiny with the aircraft viewed as ostentatious luxuries. The aircraft are rarely seen for their true purpose: necessary, modern tools to facilitate efficient and effective business. Corporations are halting the criticism through participation in voluntary carbon offset programs. Real-time aircraft location data is blocked for those operators blocking their tail numbers. Upon landing, aircraft movement and historical flight activity are easily accessible by the public following each flight through FAA data feeds. As privacy erodes and information is at everyone's fingertips, carbon offsetting is rapidly increasing in popularity by corporations to forestall public outcries against their aviation practices.