On Monday this week, KLM became the first airline to run a passenger flight partially using biokerosene. The 1.5hr flight over the Netherlands, had one engine running on a 50:50 mix of sustainable biofuel and kerosene, whilst the other 3 engines ran on 100% normal kerosene. The biofuel used reduced CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to convential kerosene according to KLM Chief Executive Peter Hartman.
Accounting for approx 2-4% of global carbon dioxide emissions, global aviation industry and subsequntly air travel is underfire from climate change analysts for several reasons. Tourism travel is seen as excessive only fuelled further by the burgeoning of short-haul carriers such as Easyjet and Ryanair, whilst business travel is again seen as avoidable with modern telecommunication systems such as Skype solving the eternal face-to-face business dilemma. How many of us are really willing to cut back on our air travel if pushed? With around a 5th of global CO2 emissions coming from the automobile industry, most consumers would prefer to find a solution to their gas-guzzling cars and allow aeroplanes as a luxury.
On the horizon however, there are several fuel alternatives to reduce aeroplane emissions. As the Exxon’s of the world strive to use one of nature’s gifts, algae, to solve their automobile fuel solution, another plant looks like it may be able to work for the aviation industry.
Hailed as global aviations miracle crop saviour, a little know plant Camelina thrives in semi-arid conditions and can be grown on marginal lands, therefore not competing with vital food crops. Camelina can be converted in to hydrocarbon rich jet fuel, something that other bio-fuels such as ethanol can not do due to their different molecular structure.
Camelina’s aviation life-cycle has now been studied by researchers at Michigan Technological University and they concluded that CO2 emissions may potentially be reduced by over 80%. Now all that is needed is proper commercialisation of the plant specifically for delivery and integration in to the aviation industry.
Source: Biofuel could lighten Jet Fuel’s carbon footprint by over 80%
Category : Biofuels