Much has been written about the oil crisis, its effect on the global aviation industry, and the need to reduce the aviation carbon footprint. I also wrote a BLOG some time ago called "Green Skies". Click here to read the BLOG.
If you take note of the media, it seemed that the two issues were in a pincer movement and aviation would inevitably be consigned to the fate of steam railways.
However, necessity is the mother of invention, and times of adversity bring out the innovators and the opportunists. It also brings out the positive people who turn catastrophe into opportunity! This is the story of alternative fuels for aviation.
The aviation industry could to be considered to be the fuel industry's difficult customer. After all, according to a recent Flight International magazine article, it accounts for only about 8% of the fuel industry transport base and requires numerous complex specifications, and, in some cases it may take up to ten years to certificate a new aviation fuel. In addition to these issues, clearly, safety is of the utmost importance to all stakeholders.
Notwithstanding, valuable research has been progressing to develop alternative fuels.
My reading indicates that there are three main processes which offer the most promise for the aviation industry; the Fischer-Tropsch fuels process, biofuel from hydro treated oils processes, and the algal and advanced generation fuels. Apparently, the Fischer-Tropsch fuels are most likely to be the first to be adopted. Indeed, the US air force has a near term fleet goal to use a 50/50 blend of Fischer-Tropsch fuel and conventional JP-8 fuels by 2016. Fuels made from the other processes appear to a layman, to be futuristic and at this stage, and would be expensive. Ensuring that sufficient volumes can be produced consistently is another important issue for the aviation industry.
The Fischer-Tropsch fuel processes uses biomass including coal, natural gas, bio-waste, forestry waste, and even vegetable oil and animal fats. This process can produce diesel, jet fuel and even biogasoline. SASOL a company in South Africa, which did much of the pioneering work with the Fischer-Tropsch process currently produces 43.8 million barrels a year of fuel and intends to produce jet fuel in Qatar and plans other plants in joint venture arrangements. SASOL gained approval for 50% blends in 1999 and 100% synthetic fuels in April this year. Click here to view the SASOL website.
I understand that a number of companies in the USA and elsewhere around the world are also either in production or building plants in order to commence production in the next few years. American Clean Coal Fuels is a company with plant in Oregon USA and plans to produce 9.8 million barrels a year. This company has a particularly interesting website. Click here to view the Clean Coal Fuels website.
The costs of production are apparently competitive with conventional oil extraction and refining. One company believes that it can produce fuel for about 26 cents a litre and another as low as 10 cents a litre.
A number of airlines, including Air New Zealand are participating in trials of synthetic fuels.
Emissions will reduce as a result of the use of synthetic fuels. Some claim that by the use of carbon capture and storage, a 50% reduction in lifecycle emissions is achievable and that eventual carbon neutrality is possible.
Although, “Oils aint Oils”, and acknowledging that there is still some way to go, I think that the future is encouraging for synthetic aviation fuel production, and reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
