Ramblings on BioFuels / Sustainable Fuels.

I’d like to share some of the latest developments from Boeing and their Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group:

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) — More leading air carriers have been accepted as members of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group.

In a statement issued from Seattle Monday, Boeing said the new members were Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, TUIfly and Virgin Blue.

Current members of the airline-led industry working group include Air France, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cargolux, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Boeing and Honeywell’s UOP, a refining technology developer, are associate members.

The User Group was launched in the fall of 2008 and has established a foundation of airlines, environmental organisations, research projects and practices and principles that can help accelerate the commercialisation and availability of sustainable biofuels.

Previously, it announced research projects on algae and jatropha curcus and later this year, the group will launch a sustainability assessment of halophytes, a class of plants that thrive in saltwater habitat.

That effort would assess lifecycle CO2 emissions and socio-economic impacts, Boeing said.

– BERNAMA

In the past, I’ve written quite a lot about BioFuels / sustainable fuels, and I’m sure that if you try out the search engine you’ll find a few related posts. To me, it’s a topic of interest and I’m trying to keep actively aware of what’s going on with green fuels and alternative sources for today’s jet fuel.

The alternative source that I am the most keen on is the Jatropha oil substitute, which comes from plants. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Continental Airlines, and other airlines involved in this Boeing-led program, tested out the substitute on their aircraft and came back with phenomenal results. Granted, the oil still needs further testing, but is there a time-frame as to when this new substitute could be common use?