TECH TALK Another in the UAE, UOP declared that its green fuels
process technology was selected by Petrixo Oil & Gas to produce renewable jet fuel and diesel at a new refinery. Petrixo will use UOP renewable jet fuel (also known as Honeywell green jet fuel/diesel) process technology to convert approximately 500,000 metric tons per year of renewable feedstocks into renewable jet fuel/diesel.
Asia
Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China recently opened a demonstration facility that will convert waste cooking oil (referred to as “gutter oil” in China) into sustainable aviation biofuel. It is estimated that 500 million gallons of biofuel could be made annually in China from used cooking oil. Japan’s Initiatives for Next Generation Aviation Fuels
recently launched with the aim to produce and supply aviation biofuels. Partners in the initiative include the University of Tokyo, Boeing Co., Japan Airlines Co., Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., All Nippon Airways Co., Narita International Airport Corp., and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., along with government agencies and observers.
South America In 2014, Boeing and Embraer opened a joint sustainable aviation biofuel research center in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and will coordinate and co-fund research with Brazilian universities. The research will focus on existing gaps in creating a sustainable aviation biofuel industry in Brazil.
Africa
Boeing and South African Airlines (SAA) publicized that South African farmers will soon harvest their first crop of energy-rich tobacco plants, an important step towards using the plants to make sustainable aviation biofuel. Boeing and SAA, along with partners SkyNRG and Sunchem SA, also officially launched Project Solaris, their collaborative effort to develop an aviation biofuel supply chain with a nicotine-free tobacco plant named Solaris. Oil-derived Solaris seeds will be converted into bio-jet fuel in 2015, with a test flight performed by SAA as soon as possible.
ALL IS WELL IN THE LAND OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Despite the drop in pricing for legacy fuels, it seems as if alternative fuels are moving forward for aviation. This is an encouraging sign that aviation is participating in long- term initiatives that address two of its biggest issues: the long-term view on fuel pricing and aircraft emissions.
04 2015 SEE US AT NBAA MMC 2015 | BOOTH 607 33
Once the industry settles on a smaller number of economically-viable solutions, or perhaps several regionally- viable types of solutions, we can expect prices for biofuels to drop due to economies of scale. Support from the world’s governments and industry groups is still needed due to the certification and liability costs, not to mention in providing emerging companies with enough funding to eventually stand on their own. We can conclude that aviation is doing its part to not
only ‘green’ itself, but also in weaning itself partially off the large price swings driven by the oil industry.
John Pawlicki is CEO and principal of OPM Research. He also works with Information Tool Designers (ITD), where he consults to the DOT’s Volpe Center, handling various technology and cyber security projects for the FAA and DHS. He
managed and deployed various products over the years, including the launch of CertiPath (with world’s first commercial PKI bridge). John has also been part of industry efforts at the ATA/A4A, AIA and other industry groups, and was involved in the effort to define and allow the use of electronic FAA 8130-3 forms, as well as in defining digital identities with PKI. His recent publication, ‘Aerospace Marketplaces Report,’ which analyzed third-party sites that support the trading of aircraft parts, is available on
OPMResearch.com as a PDF download, or a printed book version is available on
Amazon.com.
DOMmagazine.com
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