Airline’s fuel is growing on trees

Airlines account for about 2 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, which the industry has pledged to cut in half by 2050.

The report said sustainable biofuels could make up 5 per cent of airline fuel used by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2050.

It is estimated that could reduce fuel imports for carriers by up to $2 billion a year, as well as achieving a 17 per cent reduction in aviation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Virgin Atlantic in 2008 became the first airline to fly with biofuel – a fuel derived from coconut and babassu palm oil.

The ways in which the biofuels sector will develop domestically is yet to be established, but the industry expects a mix of local and regional solutions and players.

THEY’RE known as the staple diet of koalas but eucalypts could soon have a different purpose with Virgin Australia looking to use the trees as fuel.

In a world first, the airline yesterday outlined plans to use fast pyrolysis technology to process mallees, a eucalypt that can be grown sustainably in many parts of Australia.

The trees are processed to make the necessary oil used for aviation fuels and would boost the company’s attempt to cut its carbon footprint.

Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti described the project as “unique” and a fantastic opportunity to replace conventional aviation fuels.

“Over the past few years Virgin Australia has been working with stakeholders across the industry to research and develop bio-derived renewable fuels,” Mr Borghetti said.

A CSIRO report released this year identified a variety of sustainable existing resources such as sugar-cane mulch, algae and millettia (an oil-yielding tree), to support a biofuel industry in Australia.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/airlines-fuel-is-growing-on-trees/story-e6freuy9-1226089249341