The airlines: who’s doing what in aviation biofuels?

Stakeholders: Making expressions of interest

Air Berlin
Aireg member

No reported development or testing activities to date.

Alitalia

In February 2012, Alitalia signed a deal with Solena—who is currently developing a biojet project with British Airways—to explore transforming MSW into biojet using the Fischer-Tropsch process. A location for the project has not yet been set.

https://staging.biofuelsdigest.com/2011/02/08/alitalia-signs-with-solena-for-msw-to-aviation-fuels-project/

Last publicly reported activity: 2015.

In July 2015, the Initiatives for Next Generation Aviation Fuels (INAF) – a consortium of 46 organizations including Boeing, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Japan Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Japan’s government and the University of Tokyo – laid out a five-year “roadmap” to develop biofuel by 2020 as a way to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint. Using sustainably produced biofuel reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to conventional petroleum fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Cargolux
SAFUG member

Delta

Last publicly reported activity: 2014. 

In June 2014, Delta Air Lines partnered with the Carbon War Room, a nonprofit organization founded by Sir Richard Branson, in an effort to accelerate low-carbon jet fuel production worldwide. This is part of the global carrier’s commitment to environmental accountability, transparency and carbon emission reduction. The organizations, which have kept on low profile on the specifics of the partnership, agreed that “the development of a secure, sustainable, renewable fuels supply will strengthen the airline industry’s access to high-quality jet fuel, reduce price volatility and the industry’s overall carbon footprint and meet the needs of increasingly climate-conscious customers. Additionally, access to a competitively-priced renewable jet fuel will be advantageous in meeting future regulatory requirements to reduce emissions from the burning of petroleum-based jet fuel.”

Last publicly reported activity: 2014. 

In August 2014, airline Garuda expects to be using an aviation biofuel blend by 2016 composed of biofuel and avtur (aviation turbine fuel). The aircraft are already equipped to use biofuel and the carrier aims to run a trial flight soon. However, the state-owned carrier’s commitment to supporting the use of clean energy will be highly dependent on the availability of the crude palm oil (CPO)-based biofuel that is currently being tested at state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina’s laboratory.

In December last year, Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik on renewable energy in the aviation sector. Under the MoU, the government targeted reducing the use of fossil fuel in the aviation sector by mixing avtur with 2 percent biofuel in 2016 and planned to increase the amount to 3 percent in 2020.

JAL
SAFUG member

Last publicly reported activity: 2015. 

In July 2015, the Initiatives for Next Generation Aviation Fuels (INAF) – a consortium of 46 organizations including Boeing, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Japan Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Japan’s government and the University of Tokyo – laid out a five-year “roadmap” to develop biofuel by 2020 as a way to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint. Using sustainably produced biofuel reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to conventional petroleum fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

JetBlue
SAFUG member

JetBlue has partnered with Airbus, Honeywell Aerospace and International Aero Engines to pursue development of a sustainable biofuel for use in commercial aircraft. The goal of the partnership is to develop an alternative jet fuel derived from renewable biomass sources – known as second-generation biofuels – that do not compete with existing food production. Research and testing will focus on the conversion of biological materials into aviation fuel that performs identically to traditional fuels while meeting the stringent performance specifications for commercial aircraft flight.

Singapore Airlines
SAFUG member

Singapore Airlines looks to biofuels in 2012 as it became the latest airline at that time to join Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group

Thai Airways

Last publicly reported activity: 2012. 

In March 2012, Thai Airways International Public Company (THAI) launched a workshop jointly with the Ministry of Energy and PTT Public Company to focus on aviation biofuels, as a first step in the country’s effort to develop this sector.

Said Dr. Kurujit Nakornsap, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, “We aim to replace 44% of transport fuel in Thailand with biofuels from sugar derivatives and cassava.

Presently, consumption of ethanol tops 1.2 million liters a day and we are pushing to increase its further use. Thailand ‘s current biofuel champions are ethanol and biodiesel, which has been in use since 2005 and is made from palm oil.   With the Alternative Energy Development plan (AEDP), the goal has been established to increase alternative energy utilization to 25% of total energy consumption by 2021 while excluding NGV (natural gas for vehicles).”

Stakeholder

In June 2013, Solena Fuels teamed with Turkish Airlines to explore the potential use of renewable jetfuel as the airline looks to reduce its carbon emissions. Turkish Airlines has expanded its network offering significantly throughout Europe in recent years and will have to comply with European legislation to reduce carbon emissions.

https://staging.biofuelsdigest.com/2013/06/25/turkish-airlines-teams-with-solena-fuels-on-bio-jetfuel/

Stakeholder

WestJet is engaged with the Canadian federal government and industry stakeholders in advancing the development and production of biofuels for aviation in Canada. WestJet supports the development of sustainable aviation biofuels that have a minimal impact on the ecosystem, do not displace or compete with food crops and are economically viable.