Boeing Banking on Biofuels to Go Green, Help Reduce Emissions

Aircraft carrier Boeing wants to cut airplane emissions up to 80 percent, putting its faith in biofuels to reach that goal.  The airline company blends regular jet fuel into the biofuel mix, typically about 10-percent levels, while the engines can’t tell the difference.

Commercial airline biofuel use has been approved by 2011, but there have been only 1,500 passenger flights that have relied on biofuel.  There is still a large amount of research that must be done in biofuels, with regional testing projects underway.

Here is what Jessica Kowal, Boeing environmental international business development spokesperson recently said:

“Our industry, as a whole, wants to make sure that you can add biofuel to the jet fuel supply without making any changes to airplanes or engines or the fueling infrastructure.  What you want to do is expand the number of sources you can use to make biofuel and expand the fuel types that have been approved and over the years, you’ll get more biofuel and that really helps our industry reduce its carbon emissions.”

Companies trying to embrace biofuels have struggled to upscale feedstock and their fuel production capabilities, and the problem is still being resolved.  Boeing and other companies are looking for plants that aren’t typically used for human consumption – and can be easily and economically grown.

Thank you to My Northwest for providing us with this information

Image courtesy of Airline Reporter