Air New Zealand Tests Biodiesel Blend in Jet Flight

On Dec. 30, Air New Zealand successfully tested a Boeing 747-400 passenger jet powered partially by a biodiesel blend derived from a 2nd generation biofuel plant--the jatropha curcas. Jatropha is a plant that produces seeds that contain inedible lipid oil that is used to produce fuel. It can be grown in arid and otherwise non-arable areas, and each seed produces 30-40% of its mass in oil. Sustainable second-generation biofuels do not compete with food or fresh water resources or cause deforestation, while providing socioeconomic value to local communities.

The two-hour test flight was a joint initiative with partners Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and Honeywell's UOP to develop more sustainable air travel. Criteria for operational sustainability include environmental availability that does not compete with existing food resources. Technically, the fuel must be at least as good as the product used today, and it should be cost competitive with existing fuel supplies and readily available.

Airlines are experimenting with a range of plant materials in an effort to find the jet fuel of the future, according to the International Air Transport Association. The association, which represents 230 airlines, says it wants 10% of aviation fuel to come from biofuels by 2017 as part of a broad climate change plan.

There are currently no comments for this story. Be the first to add a comment!
Click here to add a comment about this story.