26-03-04

American scientists have developed an aircraft fuel mix based on soya oil and traditional jet fuel, reports the New Scientists. This fuel has the potential of considerably reducing fossil fuel consumption from air transport, which is proven to increasingly contributing to global warming.
Commercial airplanes run on petroleum fuel, thereby releasing high levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. While biofuels also release CO2 when burnt, they are considered “carbon neutral” because they took carbon from the atmosphere only recently, thus already forming part of the cycle.

To date, attempts to create biofuel based jet fuels have failed due to the requirement for aviation fuel to remain liquid down to -40 degrees Celsius. Vegetable oils normally freeze at around zero degrees.

The new blend that has been developed by biochemists of Purdue University in Indiana, USA, only freezes at -40 degrees.

The promotion of biofuels has been a priority for the EU's environment and transport policies in recent years. According to Commission estimates, an effective implementation of the 2003 Biofuels Directive could save 19 mm tons of oil by 2010.

Since the EU Directive on Energy Taxation entered into force on 1 January 2004, airplane fuel can be taxed for internal EU flights, while international air transport will remain be exempt for as long as international commitments are in place.

Source: EurActiv