Air New Zealand Test Flight – Powered by Biofuel Mix.
Air travel is said to produce around 3% of global Carbon Dioxide emissions, and is also one of the fastest rising climate change culprits. One possible solution would be to tax aviation fuel heavier, however, this option is not exactly a vote winner! Air New Zealand have been testing another, perhaps more viable alternative;
On 30th December 2008, a Boeing 747 took off from Auckland, flying on a 50% mix of standard Jet fuel and oil from the Jatropha nut – in one engine only (The 747 has a total of 4 engines).
The results from this test flight showed that Jatropha biofuel is possibly suitable for use in airplanes without the need for engine modification.
Air New Zealand are planning to obtain 10% of its aviation fuel from sustainable sources by 2013, making them an industry leader in ‘Green Aviation’.
One of the big advantages of the Jatropha oil based product is that unlike many other biofuels, it will not compete with normal food crops for water, as the Jatropha tree is known to thrive in the arrid, marginal lands of India, Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. The oil used to make the biofuel can constitute up to 40% of the Jatropha nut.
Speaking after the Air New Zealand flight, pilot David Morgan said:
“The fuel was indistinguishable from jet A1, a true drop-in fuel. You could not see a difference in the four engines.”
US airline Continental has also announced plans to test second generation biofuels, although their fuel of choice is derived from both the Jatropha nut, and also from Algae – Supplied by Sapphire Energy, a green energy company based in San Diago.
Although some environmentalists appear cynical, stating concerns over how realistic it would be to produce enough Jatropha Oil to cater for the current level of air travel in the world, the aviation companies themselves clearly feel that this is a step in the right direction for the industry.
Air New Zealand may well find the Jatropha nut gives them a good opportunity to realize their goal of 10% sustainable fuel by 2013.