(SustainableBusiness.com) A few years ago, we were hearing a lot about airlines testing and beginning to run on biofuels (combined with petroleum). With the latest announcements, are we ready for take off?
This summer, United Airlines begins flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco on 30% non-edible oils like camelina and agricultural waste and 70% jet fuel.
United is also taking a stake in the industry, announcing a $30 million investment in Fulcrum Bioenergy, which is about to start producing biofuels from municipal waste. And Fulcrum will supply United with up to 90 million gallons of biofuels a year – 3% of United’s annual consumption – under a 10-year contract worth $1.58 billion, according to Biofuels Digest.
Last year, Hong-Kong based Cathay Pacific Airways invested in Fulcrum and signed for 375 million gallons over 10 years (2% of its annual fuel).
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In the past five years, 40 commercial airlines have flown about 600,000 miles on a combination of biofuels and jet fuel, according to Aviation Biofuel Sustainability Scorecards by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
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USDA is stoking production by setting aside 80,000 acres in six states to grow non-food crops that can be converted into biofuels.
Last year, the US Navy announced that biofuels are the “new normal” and will be incorporated into all solicitations for jet engine and marine diesel fuels. They are building dedicated biorefineries on-site at facilities around the world. READ MORE