The cost of renewable hydrogen and
biofuel is likely to be greater than today’s
fuels, but the effi ciency of the fuel would
be greatly improved, leading to lower
consumption. However, the social,
economic and environmental impacts of the
large-scale use of these two fuels are still
uncertain and the government has called for
more research to be undertaken.
Addressing the motor vehicle’s
contribution to climate change by moving to
a low carbon fuel requires a technology step
shift for both fuel and vehicle technology.
This will involve massive new product and
fuel infrastructure investment. The scale
and complexity of this task is such that the
industries involved will need to operate in
partnership with government and with clear
common objectives.
Unfortunately, the worldwide motor
industry is struggling to form these
partnerships bringing car makers, power
fi rms and government together, in the main
Fewer planes queuing
because there is no consensus about the
to land, to take off and best technology to pursue.
traveling at optimum
In the aviation industry the problems
speed and height
are similar but there is evidence that
means less fuel used.
partnership working may bear fruit sooner
rather than later. A considerable advantage
generation bio-fuels are in themselves is the domination of the industry by two
controversial. Bioethanol, widely used
What could power
manufacturers, Boeing in the US and
already, is alcohol obtained from fermentation
of raw materials containing starch and sugar,
planes of the future?
Europe’s Airbus.
Earlier this year, these two companies
like sugar beet. Use of these renewable
Hydrogen fuel cells: A fuel cell is
signed an agreement to work together
raw materials helps to protect our fi nite an electrochemical device that to ensure global interoperability in air
fossil fuel resources but green campaign
converts hydrogen directly into
traffi c management as part of an effort to
groups say they have the potential to divert
electricity and heat with none of
help reduce the impact of aviation on the
the products of combustion such
crops destined for food into fuel and thus
as carbon dioxide. Other than heat,
environment. The companies will seek to
exacerbate the world’s food crisis. Long term,
water is its only exhaust.
accelerate improvement of the world’s air
second-generation bioethanol derived from transportation management system in order
alternative materials such as waste, grasses
Second generation biofuels: Fuels
to increase effi ciency and eliminate traffi c
or wood waste, offer a promising and effi cient
derived from renewable biomass
sources that do not compete with
congestion.
alternative.
existing food production or valuable
Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial
land and water resources. The
Airplanes President and CEO, and Tom
It all takes time
developing technology is looking
Enders, Airbus President and CEO signed
The problem with all these emerging
at materials such as algae as the
the agreement between the two industry
technologies is the time they are taking to
source biological matter to be
made into renewable jet fuel that
leaders at the sidelines of the third Aviation
develop. In July 2004, the UK Government’s
performs identically to traditional
and Environmental Summit in Geneva.
Department for Transport published a
fuels, while meeting the stringent
“Airbus and Boeing are great competitors,
review of the long-term energy implications
performance specifi cations for fl ight.
and this has been a critical element that
and large-scale use of renewable hydrogen has sharpened our focus and efforts toward
and biomass-based fuel with a time horizon
of 2050. The report concluded that the use
»In the aviation industry the problems are
of renewable hydrogen and biofuels could
help the UK to achieve its national goal of
similar but there is evidence that partnership
reducing CO
2
emissions by 60% in 2050. working may bear fruit sooner rather than later.
114 PLANET EARTH www.yearofplanetearth.org
PE26.Transport.rky.vp.indd 114 23/2/09 4:20:34 pm
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