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Aliança Brasileira para Biocombustíveis de Aviação (ABRABA)Stakeholders Action GroupClosedMay 2010 - 2017

 

ItemBrazilBrazil12 April, 2024System Account

ABRABA was created as a forum to discuss the various aspects of developing sustainable fuels for the aviation industry, driven by the growing demand to meet the requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation as well as to provide support for Brazil's energy security.

 

The goal was to develop alternative fuels with equivalent levels of quality, safety of use, cost, and adequate production capacity compared to fossil fuels.

 

The project initiators worked to develop partnerships with public policy makers and the fuel production industry.

 02

Algae Biotechnology, Amyris Brazil, the Brazilian Association of Jatropha Producers (Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Pinhão Manso – ABPPM), the Brazilian Aerospace Industry Association (Associação das Indústrias Aeroespaciais do Brasil – AIAB), Azul Brazilian Airlines, Embraer, GOL Airlines, TAM Airlines, TRIP Airlines, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (União da Indústria da Cana-de-Açúcar – UNICA)

012 April, 2024System Account

The goal of ABRABA was to promote public and private initiatives that streamline the development, certification, and commercial production of sustainable biofuels for aviation.

 

National
Airlines, Aircrafts manufacturers, biomass producers, fuel producers
All2_.000Full value-chain1.0
Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany (AIREG)Stakeholders Action GroupOn-going2011

aireg brochure “Sustainability of alternative aviation fuels”

ItemGermanyGermany12 April, 2024System Account

AIREG - Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany e.V. is an initiative set up by air carriers, airports, research institutions as well as the aviation industry and other partners, and has its headquarters in Berlin.

The voluntary commitment of the aviation industry towards carbon-neutral growth from 2020 on-wards can only be achieved by fast and targeted action. Research and demonstration projects that provide the opportunity for developing, demonstrating and evaluating options for producing and using biokerosene must be implemented.

 

On a domestic level AIREG is proud to having contributed to the Mobility and Fuels Strategy (MFS) of the German Federal Government, which calls for a National Development Plan for Alternative Aviation Fuel. Starting in 2015 the German Federal Ministry of Transport is conducting a pre-feasibility study for a large-scale biorefinery, an important implementation step for the MFS.

 

Germany with its leadership position in research and technology is engaging in a great number of projects along the entire alternative jet fuel value chain. AIREG supports these activities through stakeholder involvement, public relations, etc.

 

Internationally, AIREG is monitoring the ICAO process towards a global market-based mechanism to reduce avation’s carbon emissions. These negotiations offer an important opportunity to stipulate alternative aviation fuels as a cornerstone of the industries’ climate action. 

 03

AFS Aviation Fuel Services GmbH, Airbus Group, Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V., Condor Flugdienst GmbH, Deutsche Energie Agentur GmbH (dena), Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Deutsche Post AG DHL, Deutsche Shell Holding GmbH, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), DVB Bank SE, Flughafen München GmbH, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Fraunhofer Institut für Bauphysik (IBP), Global Bioenergies S.A., ISCC System GmbH, Jatro Solutions GmbH, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Linde AG, MTU Aero Engines GmbH, Neste Renewable Fuels Oy, OMV Refining & Marketing GmbH, Phytolutions GmbH, RWTH Aachen, The Boeing Company, TOTAL Deutschland GmbH, TU Hamburg-Harburg, IUE, TU München, TUIfly GmbH, Clean Carbon Solutions

 

012 April, 2024System Account

The aim of AIREG is to promote the development and use of renewable liquid fuels in order to help achieve the carbon reduction targets of the aviation sector. AIREG is looking to replace 10% of the German jet fuel demand with sustainable, alternative aviation fuels by 2025.

National
Aviation and alternative fuels industry, NGOs and research institutions
All3_.000Full value-chain1.0
BioquerosenoDeploymentOn-going2010
Under this Initiative, Spain signed three international SAF related cooperation agreements, with several related activities undertaken:
  • Mexico (2 November de 2010): First trans-oceanic flight with aviation biofuel between Mexico City and Madrid (2011). Cooperation with the Mexican "Bioturbosina" initiative.
  • Italy (24 June 2011): Close partnership cooperation under several EU research programs. Joint workshops. Cooperation within ICAO activities.
  • United States (11 February 2013): Participation in the US CAAFI biannual General Congress. Joint activities under the US PARTNER research program and EU funded projects in which Spain participates. Cooperation within ICAO activities.

 

Spain also actively participated in the following EU funded research projects to promote SAF:

  • ITAKA (coordinated by SENASA, 2012-2016)
  • Core Jet-Fuel (2013-2016)
  • Forum AE (2013 - 2017)
  • Bio4A (2017-2020)

 

Spain also actively contributes to the technical work of the ICAO Fuels Task Group (FTG) under the Committee on Aviation and Environmental Protection (CAEP).

 

Two regulatory proposals have been launched by the Spanish Government in 2019 for SAF promotion:

1) The Spanish Climate Change Law1

2) The Spanish Integrated Plan for Energy and Climate2

 

 

Contact person: Raúl Martín Fontana 
Manager OBSA (Observatory of Sustainability in Aviation)

ItemSpainSpain12 April, 2024System Account

The Spanish Bioqueroseno initiative is a national program, led by the Spanish government involving actors from the full value chain in a public-private cooperation.

 

It provides a framework among regulators and stakeholders and facilitates synergies among industrial partners in the domestic and international contexts.

 

It has its origin after the first ICAO International Conference on Alternative Aviation Fuels held in 2009. After two years of work (2010 and 2011) with stakeholders, it was formalized in 2011, with an agreement between different Ministries at that time such as as Transportation (through AESA), Energy (through the IDAE), Environment (MAGRAMA), the State company SENASA and various stakeholders.

 

In 2019 the Spanish Government proposed the establishment of a SAF supply obligation in 2025, through a "balanced compromise" with national stakeholders. The initial proposed objective is a 2% use in 2025.

 

This policy proposal reactivated the Bioqueroseno Initiative as a discussion and facilitation forum.

 

Spain presented in 2019 -together with France- a technical paper in ICAO addressing the concept of "Balanced Compromise", which proposes establishing national SAF supply targets to be defined through a dialogue between regulators and industry ensuring it does not introduces competitive distortions.

 

The Bioqueroseno initiative aim to put in practice this concept.

 04

Spanish Ministry of Transport, Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition, IDAE (Spanish Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving), AESA (Spanish Air Safety State), SENASA (Services and Studies for Air Navigation and Aeronautical Safety), BIOPLAT (Spanish Biomass Platform) and industry stakeholders.

012 April, 2024System Account
To promote the development of a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) industry in Spain through the implementation of value chains, using sustainable feedstock according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

To contribute to the objectives of the EU RED and ICAO:

  • Employ at least a 14% of energy from renewable sources in the transport sector by 2030.
  • Achieve a significant replacement of conventional jet fuel by SAF in 2050.
National
Ministries, national agencies, industry, airlines, NGOs
All ASTM certified, with focus on HEFA, MSW conversion through FT-SPK and Co-Processing4_.000Full value-chain1.0
Sustainable Way for Alternative Fuels and Energy In Aviation (SWAFEA)Feasibility StudyClosedFebruary 2009April 2011

SWAFEA’s synthesis reports have been published on the study website www.swafea.eu.

 
The technical assessment performed in the frame of SWAFEA aimed at complementing the existing works on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and HEFA (hydroprocessed vegetable oils and animal fats) synthetic paraffinic kerosenes, focused on well-established processes and final products that clone crude-oil based kerosene molecules, by investigating possible solutions beyond these first candidate fuels (impact of synthetic kerosene properties, impact of blending ratio, suitability of naphtenic compounds from liquefaction, potential of FAE).
 
As part of the environmental assessment of alternative fuels, life cycle analysis was performed for Fischer-Tropsch fuels and HEFA for various type of feedstock evidencing that significant emissions reductions could be achieved with biofuels provided that land use change emissions were carefully controlled. Potential impacts of alternative fuels on radiative forcing through their atmospheric impacts (contrails and high altitude chemistry) were also studied.
 
An analysis of the potential availability of biomass for energy use up to 2050 was performed taking into account sustainability criteria in accordance with the European Directive on Renewable Energy. The analysis, although containing inherent high uncertainties, outlined the challenge associated with the highest emissions reduction target of aviation and the need for further research on more efficient biomass and processes.
 
Last, an economic analysis was carried out within SWAFEA, essentially on HEFA and FT biomass-to-liquid (BTL), to evaluate how biofuels compare with conventional jet fuel and which measures could be required for their deployment. The analysis concluded that neither BTL nor HEFA solutions are initially cost competitive with conventional jet fuel while in the longer term their viability depends heavily on the possibility to secure "low price" feedstock supply. Specific policy measures and incentives are thus required to initiate the deployment of biofuels.
ItemEuropeEurope12 April, 2024System Account

The SWAFEA study was initiated in February 2009 by the European Commission's Directorate General for Mobility and Vehicles as part of its general policy for mitigating climate change and contributing to Europe’s Energy security as well as economic growth.

The study encompassed all aspects of the possible introduction of alternative fuels in aviation using a highly multidisciplinary approach. This included technical, environmental, and economic assessments.
 The purpose of the technical component of the study was to complement available data regarding technical suitability of alternative fuels with additional investigation and testing.
The environmental and economic assessments both consisted of in-depth analyses of the impact of various fuel production pathways, from feedstock to fuel, through the entire life-cycle. The environmental component also included societal impacts of fuel production, while the economic component studied the required fuel production infrastructure in addition to the cost breakdown of various alternative fuels.
The study was carried out under the leadership of French Aerospace Research Lab ONERA, in cooperation with a consortium of twenty partners bringing together European research organizations and representatives of virtually every major stakeholder in the aviation fuel chain. Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer as well as two international entities, IATA and Concawe, also participated.
The study delivered its findings and recommendations in April 2011.

 

 08

Airbus, AirFrance, Altran, Bauhaus Luftfahrt, Cerfacs, Concawe, DLR, EADS-IW, Embraer, Erdyn, Iata, Ineris, IFPEN, Onera, Plant Research International (WUR), Rolls-Royce UK and Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Shell, Snecma, University of Sheffield

012 April, 2024System Account
The SWAFEA European study was initiated to investigate the feasibility and impacts of the use of alternative fuels in aviation. The goals were to develop a comparative analysis of different fuels and energy-carrier options for aviation on the basis of the available knowledge, as well as to propose a possible vision and roadmap for their deployment in order to facilitate and support future policy decisions.
Regional
Airlines, OEM, fuel producers, research
All8_.000Full value-chain1.0
European Advanced Biofuels Flight PathDeploymentOn-goingJune 2011

Five workshops have been organised from May 2011 to June 2012 to:

 

  • review the progress and R&D activities on fuel pathways;
  • discuss the role of a European Civil Aviation Network to support the deployment of alternative fuels in aviation;
  • analyse financial mechanism to support advanced biofuel flagship plants and incentives for the use of biofuels in aviation.

A benchmark between 19 value chains was organised beginning of 2012 to assess their maturity level with view to deployment.

ItemEuropeEurope12 April, 2024System Account

The European Advanced Biofuels Flight Path was launched in June 2011 by the European Commission, in close coordination with Airbus, leading European airlines (Lufthansa, AirFrance/KLM and British Airways) and European biofuel producers (Neste Oils, Biomass Technology Group, UPM, Chemtex Italia and UOP).
 
The "Biofuels Flight path" is a shared and voluntary commitment by its members to support and promote the production, storage and distribution of sustainably produced drop-in biofuels for use in aviation. It also targets establishing appropriate financial mechanisms to support the construction of industrial "first of a kind" advanced biofuel production plants.
 

 

More specifically, the action focuses on the following  issues:

 

  1. Facilitate the development of standards for drop-in biofuels and their certification for use in commercial aircrafts;
  2. Work together with the full supply chain to further develop worldwide accepted sustainability certification frameworks
  3. Agree on biofuel take-off arrangements over a defined period of time and at a reasonable cost;
  4. Promote appropriate public and private actions to ensure the market uptake of paraffinic biofuels by the aviation sector;
  5. Establish financing structures to facilitate the realization of 2G biofuel projects;
  6. Accelerate targeted research and innovation for advanced biofuel technologies, and especially algae.
  7. Take concrete actions to inform the European citizen of the benefits of replacing kerosene by certified sustainable biofuels.
 09

Airbus, AirFrance/KLM, Biomass Technology Group, British Airways, , European Commission (DG Energy), Lufthansa, Neste Oils, UOP, UPM & Chemtex Italia

012 April, 2024System Account

The objective of the European Advanced Biofuels Flight Path is to define a roadmap with clear milestones in order to achieve a target of 2 million tons of sustainable biofuels used in European civil aviation by 2020.

Regional
OEM, airlines, fuel producers
All9_.000Full value-chain1.0
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)Stakeholders Action GroupOn-going2006
  • CAAFI is a key convening organization driving the formation and progress of SAF-related task forces to help get SAFs through the ASTM International testing and qualification process, starting with the Fischer-Tropsch SPK (approved 2009) (see the GFAAF Frequently Asked Questions page, Question 14 for a complete list of currently qualified SAFs).
  • CAAFI provides tools and resources to stakeholders to help them evaluate their readiness for SAF production, including:
    • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Fuel Readiness Level (FRL) tool developed by CAAFI and endorsed as a best practice by the International Civil Aviation Organization (November 2009).
    • Feedstock Readiness Level (FSRL) tool developed for evaluating progress of new feedstocks toward commercialization (CAAFI collaboration with U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; 2012).
    • Farm 2 Fly FSRL public repository of feedstock evaluations on USDA’s National Agricultural Library; evaluations are added on an ongoing basis.
  • CAAFI industry partners are enabling commercial pursuits through involvement with potential producers on research & development efforts, certification/qualification testing and review, commercialization assistance / investment, and flight demonstrations, such as:​
    • Regular Biennial General Meeting that convenes CAAFI’s extensive set of stakeholders for discussions, networking, and information sharing.
    • Ongoing CAAFI webinar series on key topics in sustainable aviation fuels
    • Ongoing development of aviation-fuel-specific techo-economic assessments (TEAs), greenhouse gas lifecycle analyses (LCAs), and supply chain evaluations for multiple fuels and feedstocks through  the ASCENT research program.
    • Formation of strategic alliance between airlines (via A4A) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), creating “single market” for alternative jet fuel (March 2010).
    • Aviation highlighted as a priority for “concerted effort” for biofuel deployment by U.S. government, including a multi-year effort that culminated in a U.S. Federal Alternative Jet Fuel Research & Development Strategy (June2016).
    • “Farm to Fly” efforts between A4A, Boeing and USDA leading to first of two significant USDA NIFA CAP efforts in Northwest U.S.
    • "Farm to Fly 2.0" (F2F2) public-private partnership and CAAFI State Initiative efforts fostering supply chain development activities and efforts.
Multiple national, international and state-level partnerships formed to facilitate research, development, evaluation and deployment of alternative jet fuels.
ItemU.S.A., CanadaU.S.A., Canada12 April, 2024System Account

CAAFI is a coalition of airlines, airports, aircraft and engine manufacturers, energy producers, researchers, non-governmental organizations, international participants and U.S. government agencies that seek to enhance energy security and environmental sustainability for aviation by exploring and facilitating the use of drop-in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

 

CAAFI primarily serves as a means of exchanging information and coordinating stakeholder efforts. This is done through development of communication tools for evaluation of alternative jet fuel readiness, the holding of technical workshops, outreach to domestic and international aviation, energy, and financial industry forums, and communication with the news media.

 

CAAFI also serves in the role of initiating activities associated with supply chain business development, including the use of public-private partnerships as well as leveraging the funded activities of their sponsors and various government partner agencies.

 

CAAFI members are advancing the development of SAF through four focused teams, under the guidance of an Administrative Leadership Team, and with advice and consent from an industry Steering Group.  The teams include:

 

  • Fuel Certification and Qualification
  • Research and Development
  • Environment
  • Business and Economics


CAAFI priorities include the following:

1.       Communicate the Value Proposition of SAF – CAAFI will communicate the economic, social, and environmental benefits of SAF to the federal government, state and local governments, regional bodies, non-governmental organizations, private sector and public to broaden the base of stakeholders supporting SAF. 

 

2.       Enhance the Fuel Qualification Approach – CAAFI will promote a broadly supported, streamlined certification/qualification program and a more durable, higher capacity process to handle the significant queue of potential SAF candidates.  
 

3.       Develop the U.S. SAF Supply by Aligning Efforts to Enable Commercial Deployment – CAAFI will focus on real-world implementation by supporting feedstock and fuel project development, foster producer-buyer engagement that leads to offtake agreements, and build upon federal, state and regional supply chain efforts.

 

4.        Implement Frameworks & Share Best Practices – CAAFI will provide tools and share best practices to evaluate the readiness of feedstocks and fuels and their potential economic, social and environmental benefits. 

 010
  • Sponsors: United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), Airlines for America (A4A)
  • Participants: 1200+ stakeholders, 500+ organizations
  • Federal Agencies in Public-Private-Partnerships: 9
012 April, 2024System Account

CAAFI’s goal is to promote the development, evaluation, and commercialization of drop-in alternative jet fuel options that offer equivalent levels of safety and compare favourably on cost with petroleum based jet fuel, while also offering environmental improvement and security of energy supply for aviation.​


North America generally, U.S. specifically (and collaborating with similar institutions world-wide)
Airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, energy producers, researchers, international participants and U.S. government agencies
All10_.000Full value-chain1.0
Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation FuelsFeasibility StudyClosed20102011
The report released in May 2011 included the following conclusions:
  • There is sufficient existing sustainable biomass to support a local bio-derived jet fuel industry
  • The region is strongly positioned to produce sustainable aviation fuels
  • There will be challenges in the scale-up of economically viable feedstock production
  • There will be high demand among industries for biofuels
  • Investment by the refining sector will be impacted by uncertainty
  • Aviation fuel distribution infrastructure will not require significant modification, however access arrangements for bio-derived jet fuel suppliers will need to be established
  • A local production industry for sustainable aviation fuels will bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits.

A full copy of the report is available from the link below.

ItemAustralia, New-ZealandAustralia, New-Zealand12 April, 2024System Account

With emissions reduction and fuel security in mind, Australia and New Zealand’s main aviation players approached CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship to work collaboratively on a study that would help plan a sustainable future for aviation fuels.

 
Although Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation does not make policy recommendations, the study provides critical input to strategic policy and investment decision making for both the study participants and other stakeholders such as government and industry. Economic modelling technology were used to map out future scenarios.
 

The report, produced in May 2011, identified several key challenges and opportunities for the new industry.

 011

CSIRO, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Boeing, Airbus, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Biofuels Association of Australia, Brisbane Airport, Caltex, GE, Macquarie, Office of Trade, Business & Industry, NSW Government, Pratt & Whitney, Royal Aeronautical Society, Rolls-Royce, The Climate Group, Honeywell UOP.

012 April, 2024System Account

The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Road Map study investigated a possible pathway to the development and commercialisation of a sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia and New Zealand.

Regional
Research, Airlines, Industry, government
All11_.000Full value-chain1.0
Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA)Research & DevelopmentOn-going20112016

Education: Funded a new “biofuels’ category for the Imagine Tomorrow high school science competition and expanded the participating regions to include Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  Created biofuels curricula and funded high school teacher training in biofuels curricula instruction. Sponsored summer undergraduate biofuels research. Utilizes undergraduate and graduate students to deliver project data in supply chain regions. Website, newsletters, one-page fact sheets and displays have been generated and promoted to educate public.
 
Wood residuals to biojet fuel: Coded and conducted sugar and chemical analysis for biomass samples collected throughout the NARA region. Optimized and generated mass balances for pre-treatment processes. Created a new long-term soil productivity site to provide for environmental and sustainability research. Cored over 300 Douglas-fir trees to determine chemical variability and select families with quality attributes for residual processing. Updated Oregon, Idaho and Montana mil residue and capacity information. Biomass and processing logistic tools/models have been generated.
 
Supply Chain Coalitions: Established the western Montana Corridor as a strategic coalition region for the supply chain…extensive data collection and stakeholder involvement is underway. Additional strategic coalitions will be established in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. NARA has developed a formalized selection process to identify strategic supply-chain communities in the NARA region. Extensive outreach to communities and tribal governments has been on going. In June 2015, Alaska Airlines announced plans to conduct a commercial flight in 2016 using biojet fuel, developed using NARA-funded technology, made from forest residuals.  Click here to read Alaska Airlines’ press release.​​
 
Co-products derived from lignin: Batch lignin samples have been generated from the residual to biojet conversion process to be used as benchmark feedstocks for co-products work. Epoxy resins with excellent mechanical and thermal properties have been developed. A native lignin-based polymeric material has been produced.

ItemU.S.A.U.S.A.12 April, 2024System Account

Led by Washington State University, NARA has received a 40 M$ grant from the USDA-NIFA to develop a holistic approach to building a supply chain for aviation biofuel (biojet) with the goal of increasing efficiency in everything from forestry operations to conversion processes.
 
NARA includes a broad consortium of scientists from universities, government laboratories and private industry.
 
To meet its mission's goals, the Alliance is broken down into specific areas of focus:
  • Education, to develop biofuel knowledge among the public and help create a future workforce;
  • Conversion, for the development of economically viable wood residue to biojet and co-products industry;
  • Feedstock, to develop a sustainable production of woody biomass feedstock;
  • Sustainability Measurement, to assess the sustainability of the overall wood residual to biojet supply chain;
  • Outreach, for the transfer of science and technology to stakeholders.

NARA researchers envision developing a new, viable, aviation fuel industry using wood residuals in the Pacific Northwest where forests cover almost half of the region. The Northwest has established oil refining, wood processing facilities and distribution assets as well as a significant aviation industry.

The project will focus on increasing the profitability of wood-based fuels through development of high-value, bio-based co-products to replace petrochemicals that are used in products such as plastics. A major goal will be to address how to better understand and use wood lignin, a glue-like material constituting up to about 30 percent of some woods. Lignin is often considered to be one of the key issues adversely affecting economic viability for production of wood-derived plant chemical products.

Key challenges to be overcome by NARA include resolving various scientific/technical obstacles that prevent economic viability. Sustainability – economic, environmental, and social – is also key. NARA researchers will use specific metrics to assess and evaluate technological progress against critical milestones throughout the project.

 012
Catchlight Energy, CLH, Cosmo Specialty Fibers, Facing the Future, Gevo, Montana State University, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, Salish Kootenai College, Steanfast Management, Tomas Spink Inc, University of Idaho, University of Minnesota, University of Montana, University of Utah, University of Washington, USFS Forest Products Laboratory, USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station, Washington State University, Western Washington University, Weyerhaeuser​
012 April, 2024System Account

Using forest residues and construction waste as feedstocks, the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) aims to create a sustainable industry to produce aviation biofuels and important co-products. The project in particular focuses on overcoming key obstacles that prevent wood-based jet fuel and petrochemical substitutes from being economically viable.

Regional
University, fuel producer, agencies
Cellulosic feedstock12_.000Full value-chain1.0
Sustainable Aviation Fuel User Group (SAFUG)Stakeholders Action GroupOn-goingSeptember 2008

April 2013: SAFUG released a Global Policy Statement on Indirect Land Use Charges (ILUC), available on their website at: http://www.safug.org/recent-activity/

15 June 2012: Boeing 747-8 Freighter historic biofuel flight to Paris

18 April 2012: ANA flies the 787 Dreamliner in first-ever transpacific flight using biofuel

www.safug.org

 

 

ItemInternationalInternational12 April, 2024System Account

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group was formed in September 2008. It gathers 25 members airlines (representing 33% of commercial aviation fuel demand) and 5 affiliates organisations from aviation industry (Boeing, Airbus and Embraer), fuel industry (UOP) and supply (ASA). It also received the support and advice from leading environmental organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
 
All members have signed a Sustainability Pledge and are member of the Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) or ISEAL Alliance, and believe that a key driver to a carbon neutral industry is advancing and adopting sustainable aviation biofuels.
 
As part of the pledge, minimum sustainability requirements for aviation sustainable fuels are:
  1. Jet fuel plant sources should be developed in a manner which is non-competitive with food and where biodiversity impacts are minimized; in addition, the cultivation of those plant sources should not jeopardize drinking water supplies.
  2. Total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from plant growth, harvesting, processing, and end-use should be significantly reduced compared to those associated with fuels form fossil sources.
  3.  ln developing economies, development projects should include provisions for outcomes that improve socioeconomic conditions for small-scale farmers who rely on agriculture to feed them and their families, and that do not require the involuntary displacement of local populations.
  4.  High conservation value areas and native eco-systems should not be cleared and converted for jet fuel plant source development.

SAFUG is aiming at developing a world leading fact base on sustainable alternative fuels in order to provide a body of peer-reviewed research and best practices for supporting the practical application of common sustainability criteria for the implementation of sustainable aviation fuels. It intends to support the development of government policies which promote the development, certification, and commercial use of sustainable, lower carbon aviation fuels.

 

 013

Air China, AeroMexico, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, ANA, AviancaTaca, British Airways, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, GOL, GulfAir, JAL, Jet Blue, KJM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAM, TUI Travel PLC, United, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia

012 April, 2024System Account

SAFUG objective is to accelerate the development and commercialisation of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation.

 

International
Airlines, OEM, fuel producers and suppliers
All13_.000Full value-chain1.0
Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN)Feasibility StudyClosedJuly 2010May 2011

SAFN published its report and recommendation in May 2011.

 
Among key findings and recommendations, are :
    • An aviation biofuels industry can be commercially viable in the Pacific Northwest;
    • Considering aviation role in the economy, aviation dependency on liquid fuels as well as the structural advantages of aviation with view to alternative fuels deployment, biofuel development for commercial and military aviation must receive priority attention in policy development and commercial efforts;
    • There is no single feedstock or technology to achieve SAFN’s goal and SAFN proposes action plans for four promising feedstock: oilseeds, forest residues, municipal solid waste and algae;
    • Supportive policies are critical to jump-start the industry and attract investment, accelerate industry growth and provide long-term economic benefits - the report offers specific policy recommendations to spur creation of sustainable fuels for the aviation industry;
    • SAFN stakeholders agree on the need to accelerate efforts to find replacements for petroleum fuels but emphasize sustainability as a crucial consideration for policies supporting alternative fuels for aviation.

The work performed within SAFN also contributed to the set of 75 commercial flights performed from Seattle by Alaska Airlines from November 2011, using a 20 percent blend of sustainable biofuel made from used cooking oil (a purchased through SkyNRG from Dynamic Fuels).

In addition, the SAFN initiative resulted in the set-up of a follow-on “Aviation Biofuels Work Group” in June 2012 when the Washington State legislature adopted the Aviation Biofuels Production bill (HB 2422). It requires stakeholders in the region to form an Aviation Biofuels Work Group to "further the development of sustainable aviation fuel as a productive industry in Washington, using as a foundation the regional assessment prepared by the collaborative known as the sustainable aviation fuels northwest”.

ItemU.S.A.U.S.A.12 April, 2024System Account
The initiative was launched in July 2010 by Boeing, Alaska Airlines, the operators of the region’s three largest airports – Port of Seattle, Port of Portland and Spokane International Airport – and Washington State University, a center for advanced biofuels research. Climate Solutions, a Northwest clean-energy nonprofit, was retained to manage a stakeholder process that included more than 40 organisations ranging across aviation, biofuels production, environmental advocacy, agriculture, forestry, federal and state government agencies, academic research and technical consultancies.
The SAFN initiative:
 
    • Analyzed the most promising, local biomass sources for commercialization;
    • Assessed all phases required to develop a sustainable biofuel industry, including biomass production and harvest, refining, transport infrastructure and use; and
    • Prioritized state and federal policy recommendations needed to spur creation of sustainable fuels for aviation.
 014

​Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Port of Portland, Port of Seattle, Spokane International Airport, Washington State University, + 40 stakeholders

012 April, 2024System Account

SAFN’s goal was to map a flight path to develop a safe, sustainable and economically viable aviation biofuels industry in the Northwest United States.

Regional
All types
All14_.000Full value-chain1.0
Alfa-BirdResearch & DevelopmentClosedJuly 2008July 2012

A synthesis of the project’s achievement and results is available on Alfa-Bird website (http://www.alfa-bird.eu-vri.eu/).

 
From the initial list of candidate fuels, the four fuels selected for deeper analysis included a fully synthetic Fischer-Tropsch fuel (Coal-to-Liquid from Sasol - used as a reference approved fuel), a Fischer-Tropsch Gas-to-Liquid (GTL), a blend of GTL and naphtenic cut, and a blend of GTL with hexanol (an alcohol with long carbon chain).
 
Results highlighted the strong impact of aromatics content of the fuel on the compatibility with elastomeric material, where these aromatics are also responsible for particulate matter emissions. Naphtenic cut proved to be an interesting candidate for further analysis while hexanol proved to be quite challenging as a drop-in fuel with regard to current aircraft and engines.
 
If CTL and GTL prove to be excellent fuel, the environmental analysis induced that are not likely to bring any greenhouse gas emission reduction, even with carbon capture and sequestration. With similar chemical composition, synthetic paraffinic kerosene obtained through Fischer-Tropsch from biomass (BTL) or hydroprocessing of oils and fats (HEFA) however present a high potential for emission reductions provided that land use change emissions are controlled.
 

Economical assessment, which included also BTL, concluded that GTL pathway is already viable in a range of cases. CTL is also an attractive case according to the geographical location and coal supply cost, while future regulations on CO2, could mitigate its economic interest in the future. Finally, the study concluded that BTL production cost could be compatible with market price if the pathway is supported by policies speeding up the industrial development.

ItemEuropeEurope12 April, 2024System Account

Initiated in July 2008, Alfa-Bird was a European research and development project, co-funded by the European Commission Directorate General for Research in the frame the 7th Framework Program, aiming at investigating the potential of alternative fuels for aviation, including their technical performances, their industrial production processes and market integration.

 
The project was dedicated to the selection and the evaluation of alternative fuels with a short to long term perspective. The evaluation was carried on a technical (fuel suitability and compliance with aviation requirements), economic and environmental basis.
 
Based on standard characterisation of fuel properties, the project down-selected 4 promising fuels for further assessment from a list of 12 candidate fuels blends covering different family of chemical compounds: paraffinic, naphtenic and oxygenated compounds.
 
The down-selected fuels underwent a detailed technical assessment through fit-for-purpose tests covering injection and combustion, system integration (in material compatibility) and safety.
 
An environmental analysis (life cycle analysis) together with an economic analysis was also performed for the selected fuels.
 

Alfa-Bird gathered a broad multi-disciplinary consortium of 24 partners for aeronautics, fuel industry and research.

 015

European Virtual Institute for Integrated Risk Management (EU-VRi), Airbus, Avio, CNRS, Technologica, Dassault Aviation, DLR, INERIS, LISBP, IFPEN, Lesaffre, MTU, Onera, Rolls-Royce, Sasol, Shell, Snecma, University of Sheffield, Unikarl, Gratz Technical University, University of Toronto, INRA

012 April, 2024System Account

The main purpose of Alfa-Bird (Alternative fuels and biofuels in Aviation) was to develop a general and complete assessment of a selection of alternative fuels for aviation.

Regional
All
All15_.000Feedstock - Processing1.0
Initiative Towards sustAinable Kerosene for Aviation (ITAKA)DeploymentOn-goingNovember 2012October 2016

Since the commencement of this project, the team has seen the following achievements:

  • Large-scale camelina plantations implemented and harvested in 2013;
  • Improved agronomical protocol for camelina in Spain;
  • First tests for new camelina varieties selection and improvement;
  • Ongoing 2014 camelina plantations (2000 ha);
  • UCO-based biojet flight demonstration program has started (May-December 2014) from Amsterdam to Bonnaire on A330-200.
  • For improved feedstock production:

    • Four large-scale camelina plantations implemented and harvested in Spain, plus two more in Romania.
    • Improved agronomical protocol for camelina in Spain;
    • First tests for new camelina varieties selection and improvement;
  • UCO-based biojet flight demonstration program completed (May-December 2014) from Amsterdam to Aruba and Bonaire on A330-200 [18 flights on HEFA from UCO blend, one engine to compare data from one engine to another]
  • Neste produced the first batch of HEFA biojet based on camelina oil produced in Europe. The camelina plantations are RSB certified. The biojet also comply with the EU RED sustainability requirements. That batch of biojet has been used for:
    • The first worldwide use of biojet in the fuel farm and hydrant systems of an airport, allowing flights in an non-segregated based with biojet blends for Lufthansa, SAS y KLM.
    • 80 flights with the Embraer E190, operated by KLM CittyHopper from Oslo to Amsterdam (short haul), with segregated supply to the plane, for the two engines, in order to gather more information complementing the flight series initiated with the long range flights to Aruba and Bonaire.

 

In addition, important lessons have been learnt, key market barriers and enablers identified, and best-practices designed in relation to the general aim of ITAKA. As a result, a set of recommendations for the correct deployment of the biojet value chain in Europe is being developed.

Deliverables with detailed information are available at the web page www.itaka-project.eu

  • Project website: www.itaka-project.eu
         
  • EU FP7 register in CORDIS
         
  • Coor dinator contact data: Inmaculada Gomez Jimenez, Observatory of Sustainability in Aviation (SENASA), Tel:+34-913019847 -  www.obsa.org - www.senasa.es        

ItemEuropeEurope12 April, 2024System Account

ITAKA is a collaborative project framed in the implementation of the European Union (EU) policies. In particular, it supports the implementation of the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan). It specifically aims to contribute to the fulfilment of some of the short-term objectives (2015) of the EU Advanced Biofuels Flight Path initiative, the goal of which is to reach a target of 2 million tons of biofuels used in European civil aviation by 2020. 

 

As the first-of-its-kind project in the European Union, ITAKA will link supply and demand by establishing commercial relationships under guaranteed conditions among feedstock growers, biofuel producers, distributors and end-users. 

 

ITAKA targets camelina oil as the best sustainable feedstock that can be produced timely at enough quantity within Europe to produce biojet fuel. The oil is converted into drop-in aviation fuel through the HEFA (Hydro-processed esters and fatty acids) pathway. On the other hand, used cooking oil (UCO) is also being assessed for its use as biojet fuel feedstock.

ITAKA addresses challenges in two main areas:

 

  • Development of commercial scale production and study of the implications of a large-scale use;

  • Research on sustainability, economic competitiveness and technology readiness.

The generated knowledge will allow to identify and address barriers to innovation and commercial deployment.

ITAKA project work plan relies on the following Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).



  • WP1 is aiming at improving key aspects of camelina cultivation, including economic, social and environmental sustainability aspects (productivity and land use will in particular be considered).
  • WP2 includes the research tasks related to the conversion technology.
  • WP3 includes demonstration tasks related to the improvement of logistics (while the main demonstration tasks of the supply chain are carried out in WP7).
  • WP4 covers the research tasks for the flight testing phase. 
  • WP5 will focus on sustainability, gathering technical, economic, social and environmental data to assess the impacts, effects and regulatory implications of the large-scale use of biofuels in aviation. 
  • WP6 contains the tasks related to the Plan of Use and Dissemination of Foreground created in ITAKA, complemented with networking and outreach activities, including the development of an Advisory Group.
  • WP7 comprises the demonstration activities of the project and will consist in producing large enough biofuel batches to enable the demonstration of large scale supply and operational use. These activities include feedstock production, conversion technology, logistics, supply and in-flight use.
  • WP8 comprises the project management and Consortium Coordination.
 019

Senasa, AirBP, Airbus group, Asociatia Centrul de Biotechnologiimicrobiene, Avinor, Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos, École Politechnique Federale de Lausanne, Embraer, Lufthansa, The Manchester Metropolitan University, Neste Oil, SAS, SkyEnergy, Camelina Company España, Consorzio per la Ricerca e la Dimostrazione Sulle Energie Rinnovabili.​

Collaborators: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, USAMVB (Universitatea de Ştiinte Agronomice şi Medicină Veterinară Bucureşti)

 

012 April, 2024System Account

ITAKA is an EC funded research project that intends to support the development of aviation biofuels in Europe, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner, improving the readiness of existing technologies and infrastructures.


The objective is to develop a full value-chain in Europe to produce sustainable Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) at a large enough scale to allow testing in existing logistic infrastructures and in normal flight operations in Europe.

In addition, according to the objectives set by the European Advanced Biofuels Flight Path and the SWAFEA study recommendations, it also represents an instrument to coordinate efforts and use complementarities between European Initiatives on sustainable aviation fuels.




Regional
Ministries, national agencies, industry, fuel producers, airlines, NGO
Oleaginous / Hydroprocessing19_.000Full value-chain1.0
Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI)Stakeholders Action GroupClosedMay 2012June 2013

In June 2013, MASBI  produced its final report and recommendations from the one-year-long study of the potential for aviation biofuels in the Midwest (report available at www.masbi.org).

 

Noting the progress made in developing biofuels, including its use on more than 1,500 commercial aviation flights globally, the coalition agreed that more must be done to achieve the sustainable production of commercial-scale and cost-competitive advanced biofuels from sources such as non-food crops and waste products. MASBI sees the development of vertically coordinated value-chains as an effective way to develop aviation biofuel industry through which Midwest could rapidly scale-up the production of aviation biofuels. A regional approach to development is also considered as an ideal means to connect agricultural systems and biofuel industry, which expedites and focuses progress while limiting financial risks.

 

MASBI outlined actions and recommendations in five key areas to advance biofuels development.

 

R&D

From its analysis, MASBI selected four promising pathways likely to be commercially available in 5 years: alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ), Fischer-Tropsch, hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) and hydrotreated depolymerised cellulosic jet (HDCJ from direct liquefaction pyrolysis). Alongside, nine feesdstocks were selected as the most promising ones: camelina, corn, municipal wastes, industrial residues, inedible corn oil, pennycress and wood residues.

 

Recommendations include:

1. Improve feedstock production capacity through agricultural innovation.
2. Develop advanced feedstocks tailored for jet fuel production.
3. Investigate the effects of uncertain conditions, such as changing policy, weather, seasonal intermittency, and co-products on the techno‑economic performance of conversion technologies.
4. Advance technologies to convert lignocellulosic biomass.

 

Production and commercialization

In the near term, MASBI sees a larger potential for residues stream to provide large volumes of low-costs feedstocks as conversion of farmland to energy crops, perceived as less profitable than food crops, is not likely.

As diesel production is more profitable than jet fuel, optimising process for diesel could be a way to develop the industry.

ASTM approval and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of pathways are seen as hurdle for the development of new pathways.

 

Recommendations includes:

5. Identify means to expedite approvals by ASTM International and EPA.
6. Allow producers to optimize products portfolio to improve overall economics of biofuels production.

 

Financing and investments

Perceived technology risks and policy risks (associated to the need for incentives to ensure cost competitiveness) limit interest of investors and increase requested return on investments.  

Listening to investors, large-scale movement in the institutional investor community is unlikely until stakeholders in the aviation value chain themselves make direct investments.

 

Recommendations include:

7. At this early stage of development, consider (as stakeholders) to enter agreements with the aim to balance risks with partners, thereby accelerating the rate of industry growth.
8. Demonstrate industry demand with aviation jet fuel purchase guidelines (to initiate and inform discussions with producers to identify places of overlap where their commercial needs meet).
9. Create a pool of capital to invest in biofuels.
 
Policy and economic development
 Government policy must provide long-term, reliable market signals as the industry grows to commercial scale. MASBI recommends to support sustainable aviation as a national strategic priority, using public-military-private partnership to promote industrial production, and to provide risk mitigation for investors, producers and customers.

 

Recommendations:

10. Create longer-term policies that enable investment and production.
11. Level the playing field with fossil fuels and other form of ground-based fuels.
12. Fully fund the Defense Production Act Title III for the production of biofuels.
13. Build regional demonstration facilities supported by municipal and state policy (small facilities which don’t exhaust feedstock availability) 

 

Sustainability

Recommendation:

14. Incorporate sustainability standards and advance certification.

  • www.masbi.org
  • Contact person: Meg Whitty; Margaret.whitty@united.com       
ItemU.S.A.U.S.A.12 April, 2024System Account

Organization stakeholders developed a feasibility study and an action plan to advance the biofuels industry in the Midwest.

 

Initially, MASBI evaluated Midwest feedstock options, commercialization requirements and opportunities, logistics and infrastructure needs, and regional policy measures. After this actionable roadmap was developed, the goal was for MASBI participants across the biofuel value chain to execute recommendations that will enable the development and commercialization of aviation biofuels.

 

MASBI brought together over 40 public and private organisations. The Steering Committee of MASBI was comprised of the founding members – United Airlines, Boeing, Honeywell’s UOP, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Clean Energy Trust.

 

MASBI’s Advisory Council included national leaders in advanced biofuels, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Navy, other Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

 

 020

​United Airlines, Boeing, Honeywell’s UOP, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Clean Energy Trust​


012 April, 2024System Account

​​The Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI) was designed to advance aviation biofuel development in a 12-states region holding significant promise for biomass feedstock, technology development, job creation and sus​tainable commercialization. MASBI was to  deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the region’s biofuel potential and a plan to support regional and national needs in a responsible manner.


National
Airlines, OEM, fuel producers and suppliers
All20_.000Full value-chain1.0
Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC)Research & DevelopmentOn-going2011
In September 2016, the SBRC collected their first harvest of their salicornia fields. The Salicornia was processed into aviation fuel during 2018, and a first flight using a small amount of Salicornia derived fuel took place on January 15, 2019, on the route Abu Dhabi – Amsterdam.

Click here to view a video that presents this work. 

Dr. Alejandro Rios G.,  Director

Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium

Chief Research Scientist

Khalifa University of Science and Technology

PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, 

United Arab Emirates

Email: alejandro.riosgalvan@ku.ac.ae

 

https://www.ku.ac.ae/project/

ItemUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates12 April, 2024System Account

The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) is leading a research and demonstration project designed to study the commercial viability of halophyte-derived jet fuel and bioenergy.

 

The Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) includes three basic components, namely, aquaculture and halophyte agriculture and agroforestry. Agronomic research on halophyte plants such as Salicornia bigelovii, and other local species, has produced very promising results in the potential to scale the production of these types of feedstocks. The use of non-arable desert land and sea-water irrigation really sets this system apart from traditional biomass production.

 

The project uses aquaculture effluent from fish and shrimp farms to provide the majority of the nutrient content to the Salicornia fields, with the leftover effluent being treated by a mangrove wetland.

 

In line with a presentation delivered during the First ICAO Stocktaking Seminar toward the 2050 Vision for Sustainable Aviation Fuels, the SBRC's projected aviation fuel production from 2019-2032 using Salicornia is shown below:

 

2019-2021150-600 L/year
2022-202675,000-195,000 L/year
2027-20317,600,000-19,600,000 L/year
2032-75,700,000-194,500,000 L/year

 

In addition to aviation fuel, the project contemplates the production of biomass-based electricity and other biofuels, as well as food from the aquaculture operation.

 

 021

Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Etihad Airways, ADNOC Refining, The Boeing Company, Safran , GE, and Bauer Resources GmbH

012 April, 2024System Account

The objective of the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium is to lay the foundation for arid land and saltwater-based sustainable aviation fuels.

National
Research institutions, airlines, manufacturers
HEFA-SPK (near-term) / FT-SPK (mid-term)21_.000Full Value-chain1.0
Green Sky LondonDeploymentClosed20102016

GreenSky London  signed an exclusive option on a site for the facility and consent work for the site began in 2015. Barclays was been appointed as advisor to explore the optimal funding through export credit agencies and the consortium providing the facility’s key technology functions. The plan was for Solena Fuels Corporation to provide the gasification process and the overall Integrated Biomass to Liquid; Oxford Catalysts Group/Velocys to supply the Fisher-Tropsch (FT) reactors and catalyst; and for

  • Fluor to provide the engineering and design.
  •  

    ItemUnited KingdomUnited Kingdom12 April, 2024System Account

    Green Sky London was a joint project from British Airways and Solena to build a biofuel production plant combining plasma gasification and Fischer-Tropsch technology to convert municipal waste in liquid fuels.

     
    The plant, based near London, would use the city’s abundant source of waste and will also be located close to the point of consumption. It was designed to annually convert approximately 500,000 tonnes of waste normally destined for landfill into 50,000 tonnes of jet fuel, 50,000 tonnes of biodiesel and bionaphtha and additional power.
     
    The business case for the project was driven around carbon pricing (EU ETS) and landfill taxes (up to $100 per ton). British Airways is committed to purchasing, at “market competitive” prices, the anticipated 50,000 tonnes of jet fuel produced annually by the GreenSky plant for the next 10 years, a financial commitment of $500m at today’s fuel prices.
     
    Completion of the fuel production facility was expected in 2017.
     

    As of January 2016, this project has been put on hold.

     022

    British Airways, Solena

    012 April, 2024System Account

    The Green Sky London project aimed at building a first of a kind alternative fuel plant in London, which would convert municipal waste into aviation fuel for use in British Airways flights from London airports.

     

    National
    Airline, fuel producer
    Fischer-Tropsch waste-to-liquid22_.000Fuel production1.0
    Flight Plan Towards Sustainable Aviation Biofuel in MexicoFeasibility StudyClosedJuly 2010March 2011

    Six workshops were organised over 8 months with all involved stakeholders and farmers, gathering in average about one hundred of participants.

    • Supply-chain analysis and sustainability: analysis of the challenges throughout the supply chain on the basis of the RSB principles.
    • Raw material and extraction

    Following conclusions were drawn from the workshop:

      • jatropha, castor,salicornia, agave and algae emerge as indigenous potential candidate for Mexico;
      • vegetable oil industry in underused in Mexico because usual oil seeds are not produced in Mexico.
    • Refining facilities

    As an outcome of the study, it is expected that by 2020, with the right funding structure in place, four aviation biofuel refineries will be operating producing 800 Ml of jet fuel per year.

    • Financing, legislation and logistics: analysis of the different national and international alternatives for funding the development of aviation biofuels, as well as of the legislative framework.

     

    • Algae: detailed analysis of the potential of this type of feedstock.

     

    • Aviation biofuels viability in Mexico: analysis of the viability of each component of the supply-chain.

    The general conclusion was that there were great opportunities for aviation biofuel in Mexico, with a strong interest from all stakeholders to participate in the initiative. Sustainability appeared as a key while the main identified bottleneck was the production of the required quantities of feedstock.

    In addition, the integration of the supply-chain made possible that ASA was involved in the process of aviation biofuel production, and carried out the first flights with biofuel in Mexico. 

     

    ItemMexicoMexico12 April, 2024System Account

    The Flight Plan initiative aimed at:

    • Leading the national efforts of civil, public, private and research institutions in the development and production of aviation biofuels
    • Analysing the legal framework, raw materials availability, refining infrastructure and the economic viability of aviation biofuels
    • Integrating the talents of all participating sectors.

    Mexican targets supporting the initiative are seeking an aviation biofuels production covering 1% of the national demand in 2015 and 15% in 2020.

     

    A series of workshops for the Flight Plan were designed using a schematic view of the supply chain.

     023

    Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) + 60 experts and more than 200 stakeholders.

    Strategic partners: Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB), Boeing, Honeywell-UOP

    Sponsor: National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT)

    012 April, 2024System Account

    The objective of the “Flight Plan” was to identify and analyze the existing and missing elements in the supply-chain of aviation biofuels, with a focus on the HEFA track.

    National
    All
    Oleaginous / Hydroprocessing23_.000Full value-chain1.0
    BurnFAIR projectResearch & DevelopmentClosedJuly 2011December 2011

    From July to December 2011, 1187 flights were performed which used 1557 tons of biofuel blend.

     
    No flight issues were observed in the course of the project. No difference in engine operation were reported. Fuel consumption was decreased by one percent due to the higher energy density of the biofuel blend.
     
    Neither fuel unmixing nor microbiological contamination was observed during fuel storage.
     
    Inspection of engine and fuel tanks did not reveal any anomaly. Engine components were in perfect condition.
     

    The conclusion of the project was that the biofuel proved its worth in daily flight operation.

     

    ItemGermanyGermany12 April, 2024System Account

    As part of the project, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 operated four daily round flights between Hamburg and Frankfurt, for a period of 6 months, with one engine fuelled with a 50% blend of conventional jet fuel and HEFA synthetic fuel.

     
    A batch of biofuel was produced for the project by Neste Oil in its refinery of Porvoo in Finland. The fuel was stored in Hamburg where aircraft fuelling was operated.

    Regular analysis of the fuel was performed to detect eventual unmixing of the blend, due to difference in density between HEFA and kerosene, or microbiological contamination.
     
    Regular evaluation of recorded engines’ parameter was performed. At the end of the testing period, a detailed technical analysis was achieved, including engine inspection with boroscoping and teardown analysis of key parts like fuels pumps.
     
    Twelve universities and industry partners were associated to the project under Lufthansa leadership. The project was partly funded by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology. 
     024

    Lufthansa, DLR, Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, Technical University of Münich, Bauhaus Luftfahrt, Airbus Operations GmbH, EADS, MTU Aero Engines, German Biomass Research Center, Hamburg Airport.

    012 April, 2024System Account

    The main goal of the BurnFAIR project was to gain experience and generate data on the regular use of alternative fuels over a long period of time.

     

    In particular, the project aimed at evaluating the consequences on engines health and the potential operational issues that may not have been identified in previous lab-tests and singular flights.

     

    National
    Airlines, Research, Manufacturers, Airports
    Oleaginous / Hydroprocessing24_.000Operations1.0
    Nordic Initiative for Sustainable Aviation (NISA)Stakeholders Action GroupOn-going2014

    Over the years, NISA has launched and implemented a number of national and Nordic analyzes and published reports on possible solutions, barriers and assumptions which the industry is facing.  Every year NISA has held conferences or workshops with Nordic and international participants. NISA has, on the last occasion, seen increased activity regarding aviation issues, especially in Norway and Sweden where also the political agenda includes the airline industry's challenges. With regard to the most recent event, held in November 2018, interesting presentations are available at the following link: https://www.nordicenergy.org/article/nordic-leadership-in-sustainable-aviation-fuels-policies-technology-options-research-needs-and-markets/

     

    NISA and its members participate in a number of projects involving the development of sustainable aviation fuels, electro fuels, electric aircraft, sustainable airports and other activities that focus on a future sustainable aviation industry. Participation in, or inputs to, political initiatives are also part of the activities of NISA and its members.

     

    NISA is one of three founding members of the Fly Green Fund, established in Sweden. The fund's goal is to promote and participate in the development of sustainable aviation fuels by launching access for interested customers to fly on sustainable fuel.

     

    Martin Misspelled WordPorsgaard has been head of NISA since its inception. Misspelled WordInger Misspelled WordSeeberg, Environment Director at CPH A/S is chairman of the NISA Board. NISA has a function board with frequent meetings, and also annual general meetings.

    Martin Porsgaard map@nisa.dk   Phone: +4552198910    

    www.nisa.dk

     www.flygreenfund.se

    ItemScandinaviaScandinavia12 April, 2024System Account
    The Nordic aviation stakeholders, including a number of airlines in the Nordic region as well as the largest airport owners in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have formed the Nordic Initiative for Sustainable Aviation (NISA). Aviation industry organizations in those countries, the respective aviation authorities and IATA, Boeing and Airbus are also active participants in NISA.
     
    These partners work to promote the framework and conditions needed to support the deployment of new sustainable propellants and also to contribute to innovative and new green jobs, attracting solid investments and contributing to the region’s position as a leader in global green development.
     
    The intention is to work on the following specific activities at national, Nordic and international level:

     

    • Systematic overview of ongoing initiatives (feedstock, technologies, R&D, production etc.);
    • Overview of relevant actors: Key stakeholders in the Nordics, supplemented with global inputs;
    • Coordination and facilitation of initiatives and activities across countries, companies, researchers etc.;
    • Participation in relevant projects, applications, etc.;
    • Customer requirements for biofuels in the Nordics;
    • Logistics, transport and storage overview and recommendations;
    • Regional focus on innovation in sustainable aviation fuels;
    • Strategic input to decision makers at airports, industry and governments on alternative pathways that may be pursued to promote the development of sustainable aviation fuel;
    • Economics and pricing; and
    • Assessment on barriers to advancing sustainable fuels in the Nordics.

    Accelerating commercial access to sustainable aviation fuel will lead to reduced emissions. This will benefit society as a whole to a great extent since the developments described also generates jobs and further development of advanced new technologies.

     025

    Airlines: SAS, Finnair, Norwegian, Misspelled WordIcelandair, Air Greenland, Atlantic Airways, Thomas Cook Group Airline

    Organizations: BDL Danish Aviation, Swedish Air Transport Society, Swedish Aviation Industry, NHO Aviation Industries, IATA

    Authorities: Transport Agencies from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland

    Airports: DK/Copenhagen Airports, SV/Misspelled WordSwedavia, NO/Misspelled WordAvinor, Misspelled WordFinavia

    Producers: Airbus, Boeing

    012 April, 2024System Account

    Since the beginning of 2014, the members of NISA (Nordic Initiative for Sustainable Aviation) have cooperated with the aim of facilitating and strengthening the conditions for a more sustainable aviation industry. This includes a strong focus on the development of commercial-scale, continuous access to sustainable aviation fuels.

     
    As part of the objectives, NISA aims to be updated, to coordinate and to communicate about the sustainability aspects for different pathways in light of national legislations, EU Sustainability Criteria and international sustainability guidelines.
     
    An essential task is also to coordinate with initiatives and activities set up by Nordic and national industry organizations, authorities, IATA, ATAG, UN bodies like ICAO, EU Flight Path initiatives, and other relevant activities.
    Regional
    Airlines, Authorities, Airports, Manufacturers
    All25_.000Full value-chain1.0
    Qatar University Biofuels ProjectResearch & DevelopmentOn-going2010

    • Selection of indigenous photosynthetic organisms with good growing capabilities under Qatar conditions, study of their growth characteristics, extensive biochemical and genetic characterization.
    • Successful outdoor cultivation trials in 1500 litres tanks.
    • Up-scaling to 25000 litres outdoor ponds underway (Qatar University Farm Demo Plant)
    ItemQatarQatar12 April, 2024System Account

     

    The Qatar University’s project is a state-backed research program, carried out in cooperation with Qatar Airways and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). The first phase (USD 12 million) started in 2010 and is expected to finish end of 2013.

     

    It focuses on the cultivation of single-celled photosynthetic organisms (cyanobacteria and microalgae) that are well suited to the Qatar local environment: extreme heat, strong sunlight and highly saline water. The main goals of the initial phase were to obtain candidate biofuel microalgae and test their performance outdoors in Qatar’s climatic conditions.
     
    The plan for the second phase of the project is to capture CO2 generated by natural gas, oil and desalination industry for algal growth.
     
    The ultimate goal is to build a pre-commercial pilot plant with an indicative volume of 1.5 million of litres and to produce one barrel of liquid biofuel per day.

     

     026

    Qatar University, Qatar Airways, Qatar Science and Technology Park

    012 April, 2024System Account

    The aim of the Qatar University Biofuels Project is to find a way of producing affordable, sustainable biofuels which do not rely on the use of valuable arable land and which can be produced efficiently in the harsh climate of Qatar.

     

    National
    Academic, Airlines
    Microalgae26_.000Feedstock1.0
    Sustainable Aviation Biofuels for Brazil (SABB)Feasibility StudyClosedApril 2012June 2013
    The final report, “Flightpath to Aviation Biofuels in Brazil: Action Plan” is available to download.
     
    The project concluded that Brazil has a great potential to supply biofuels for domestic and international markets.
     
    To start a jet biofuel industry in Brazil, sugarcane, soybeans and eucalyptus are natural candidate crops. Several other crops are feasible options but require additional R&D efforts that were identified in the project. Wastes and residues are also promising. Logistics improvements will be needed as transport infrastructure is poor in Brazil and some crops may be grown in areas distant from final use.
     
    A conclusion is also that Brazil has abundant available land for bioenergy through increasing productivity on agricultural lands (in particular through intensification of cattle farming).
     
    Considering the combination of feedstock and conversion technologies, 13 pathways were identified with associated R&D needs. In the short term the use of sugar and ethanol is a promising option while, in the medium to long term, lignocellulose feedstock have better competitive possibilities due to their higher sustainability. A properly designed R&D program is necessary to screen the several pathways for feedstock and processes based on economic competitiveness, LCA and other environmental and social impacts. R&D actions to improve efficiency in both feedstock production and conversion is also recommended.
     
    Ensuring sustainability and compliance with applicable laws was considered as a major requirement that should be enforced through certification and verification. The production of feedstock in Brazil was assessed using recognized sustainability criteria like RSB, Bonsucro and ISCC. It was concluded that in the Brazilian context, biofuel production can be accelerated without endangering food security and that the real issue was to improve the sustainability of agriculture in general.
     
    The report finally concluded that the development of aviation biofuels depends strongly on support mechanisms and proper public policies. Long-term biofuel policies, integrating all motorized transportation modes, have to be established to make aviation biofuel economically viable due to the extra-cost of producing a drop-in jet fuel.
    ItemBrazilBrazil12 April, 2024System Account

    The project relied on a consensus based approach to identify action plan priorities to promote the use of sustainable biofuels in aviation. The project methodology used a series of workshop to stimulate discussions and gather information that were analysed to develop scenario based on the likelihood of commercial feasibility in 2015-20122 while considering also the 2050 timeframe.

     

    Eight workshops were organised:
    • Project overview
    • Feedstock
    • Refining technologies
    • Sustainability
    • Policy and incentives
    • Logistics and supports
    • R&D and commercialisation gaps
    • Briefing to stakeholders.

    The project produced its final report in June 2013, including the outcomes of the workshops, the conclusion of the projects and an action plan with recommendations to develop an aviation biofuel industry in Brazil.

    The SABB project was coordinated by Unicamp and sponsored by Boeing, Embraer, FAPESP and Unicamp.

     027

    Boeing, Embraer, FAPESP, Unicamp, AIAB, Amyris, ANAC, Andritz, ANP, APTTA, Bioeca, Byogy, Climate Solutions, CTBE, Embrapa Agroenergy, Ergostech, GE, GOL, IAC/APTA/SP, IAE/DCTA, ICONE, ITA/DCTA, Lanzatech, Life Technology, Mount Rundle, Neste Oil, National Wildlife Federation, Oleoplan, Petrobras, RSB, SGB, Sindicom, Solazyme, Unifei UOP, USP, Weyerhaeuser Solutions, WWF, 4 CDM

    012 April, 2024System Account

    The goal of the Sustainable Aviation Biofuels for Brazil (SABB) project was to carry out a comprehensive assessment of challenges and opportunities for implementing an aviation biofuels industry in Brazil, taking into account technological, economic and sustainability aspects.

     

    The objective were:

    • To develop a roadmap to identify gaps and barriers related to production, transportation and use of biofuels for aviation;
    • To create the basis for a research and commercialization agenda to overcome the identified barriers; and
    • To establish the foundation to launch a new and innovative industry in Brazil.
    National
    All
    All27_.000Full value-chain1.0
    Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative (QSAFI)Research & DevelopmentClosed2010
    Results from the first phase of the project have been published in the international journal “Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining” and were presented at the Boeing-hosted Aero Environment Summit in Sydney in May 2013.
     
    The processes to convert three feedstocks - sucrose from sugar cane; microalgae; and oily seeds from a tree called Pongamia – were modeled to produce a minimum selling price for aviation biofuel. The results showed that using current proven technologies, the biofuels would be economically competitive with crude oil at a price per barrel of $301 (sugarcane), $374 (Pongamia seeds) and $1,343 (microalgae).
     
    Identified research priorities to lower the prices include:
    • delivering higher fermentation yields in the sucrose process;
    • producing Pongamia seeds with a higher oil content; and
    • developing cheaper and more effective microalgae harvesting technologies.

    The results showed that implementing these technological improvements could lower the price to $168 (sugarcane), $255 (Pongamia seeds) and $385 (algae).

     

    ItemAustraliaAustralia12 April, 2024System Account
    The project started in 2010 at The University of Queensland, with a first phase completed by 2013. A second project is now evaluating the specific business case for a biofuel production plant in Mackay, Queensland.
     
    The initiative was established through a Queensland Government National and International Research Alliances Program grant that brought together a consortium of university biofuel experts and industry for the AU$6.5 million first stage of the program. The second phase to evaluate the business case is funded through the Queensland Government’s Research Partnerships Program.
     
    The overall objective of the project is to perform the initial stages that constitute the different steps to the construction and operation of an industrial facility in Queensland:
    1. Concepts analysis
    2. Business case
    3. Pre-feasibility study
    4. Feasibility study
    5. Implementation / plant construction
    6. Operations

    Step 1 was performed during the first phase of the project. Step 2 is underway.

    In addition to the production of jet fuel for Australian airlines, the project also targets the manufacturing of biodiesel for other end-users, such as the navy, mining companies and long-distance road transportation.

    Current on-going and completed research includes:

    • Sugar cane conversion to produce aviation fuel molecules, with systems and synthetic biology research to improve fuel production from sucrose using engineered microbes;
    • Techno-economic modeling based on open and accountable information from journal reports, patents and industry to deliver cost estimates and identify main issues for the conversion process associated to the three feedstocks selected from the first project’s phase.
    • A business case analysis on the conversion of sugarcane to advanced biofuel in Queensland, Australia.

     

     028

    Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Institute for Molecular Biosciences (The University of Queensland), James Cook University, Boeing Research & Technology - Australia, Virgin Australia, Mackay Sugar Limited, General Electric, IOR Energy, Amyris.

     

    012 April, 2024System Account

    The ultimate goal of the Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative is to help enable construction and operation of a sustainable biofuel manufacturing facility in Queensland.

     

    Regional
    Universities, Airlines, Manufacturers, Fuel producers
    Sugar-to-alkane, microalgae, oleaginous28_.000Full value-chain1.0
    Australian Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (AISAF)Stakeholders Action GroupClosed20122015
    • Low Carbon Transport on the Move Conference, 2015
    • Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, 2014
    • Contact person: Dr. Susan Pond, AISAF Chair, aisaf-chair@aviationaerospace.org.au​

     

    ItemAustraliaAustralia12 April, 2024System Account

    AISAF was founded on 8 August 2012 as public private partnership supported by the aviation industry and the Australian Government. In August 2013, AISAF joined forces with Aviation Aerospace Australia (A/AA; aviationaerospace.org.au) the not-for-profit and independent association, with an overarching objective to contribute to the long-term health and sustainability of Australia's aviation and aerospace sector.

    AISAF was structured around its Steering Committee and four working groups:
        1. Research, Development & Demonstration – feedstocks and conversion technologies,
        2. Fuel Certification & Qualification,
        3. Environmental Impacts, and
        4. Commercialisation.

          The objectives of the working groups were to:

          • Identify gaps in research, studies and analyses of the challenges in developing and commercialising sustainable aviation fuel and, where appropriate, facilitate the required research and analysis;
          • Facilitate sharing of information to establish a common understanding amongst AISAF stakeholders of the current state of the sustainable aviation fuel industry domestically and internationally;
          • Prioritise efforts to focus on significant domestic and international sustainable aviation fuel developments that will improve the integration of activities essential to the development of a commercially viable sustainable aviation fuels supply chain in Australia;
          • Communicate and engage with sustainable aviation fuel stakeholders from across the supply chain to improve the integration of activities essential to the development of sustainable aviation fuels; and
          • Implement the Work Plan under the Australia USA Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

          As of 2015, this initiative is no longer active, and has been absorbed into the US Studies Centre's Alternative Transport Fuel Initiative at the University of Sydney.

           029

          Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, Airbus, Boeing, GE, Baker & McKenzie, CSIRO, Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuels Initiative, Australian Government, The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, CAAFI

          012 April, 2024System Account

          The Australian Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (AISAF) was a coalition of the diverse participants from business, government and academia in Australia. It was operated as a part of the Alternative Transport Fuels Initiative of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. AISAF’s vision is a long-term future for aviation powered by sustainable fuels.

           

          The objectives of AISAF were to:

          • Support the development and introduction of commercial supply chains for sustainable aviation fuels in Australia
          • Engage and collaborate with partners in the USA and other countries

           


          National and Asia Pacific
          Airlines, Aviation/Aerospace Industry, National Laboratory and University R&D, Agricultural and other Feedstock Providers, Fuel Producers and Distribution, Design and Construction Engineers, Banking and Finance Sectors, State and Federal Governments, Non-Government Organisations
          All29_.000Full value-chain1.0
          CORE-JetFuelResearch & DevelopmentOn-goingSeptember 2013August 2016

          Workshops organized throughout the course of the project:

          • 20-22 October 2014:
            • Sustainable Aviation Fuels Forum, Madrid
          • 01 June 2015:
            • Stakeholder Workshop: Sustainable alternative aviation fuels – Innovative conversion technologies and deployment, EUBCE, Vienna
          • 29 October 2015:
            • Strategy Workshop – Policies and value chains for large-scale deployment of alternative aviation fuels, IEA Bioenergy Conference, Berlin
          • 28 April 2016:
            • CAAFI - CORE-JetFuel Cooperation Workshop, Alexandria (USA)
          • 16-17 June 2016:
            • CORE-JetFuel Final International Conference: Sustainable Alternative Aviation Fuels – The Way Forward

           

          Presentations and summaries of the workshops are available here.

          ItemEuropeEurope12 April, 2024System Account

          CORE-JetFuel is a Coordination Support Action funded under the 7Th Research Framework Program by the European Commission.

           

          CORE JetFuel objectives are to:
          • support the European Commission in the implementation of research and innovation projects for sustainable alternative jet fuels;
          • to connect initiatives and projects at European and Member State level;
          • to serve as a focal point to all public and private stakeholders;
          • to set up a European network of excellence for alternative fuels in aviation.

          The initiative covers the entire fuel production chain and the work is divided into four thematic domains:

          1. Feedstock and Sustainability;
          2. Conversion Technologies and Radical Concepts;
          3. Technical Compatibility, Certification and Deployment;
          4. Policies, Incentives and Regulation.

          Within these four domains, the identification, collection, analysis and evaluation of all relevant national, European and international R&D activities in the field of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation take place. The work is supplemented by the establishment of Stakeholder Working Groups corresponding to the four thematic domains.

           

          The organisation of workshops and conferences is also planned as well as the development of cooperation with Brazil and the United-States.

           

           030
          • ​Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. - FNR (Germany)
          • Bauhaus Luftfahrt - BHL (Germany)
          • Servicios y Estudios para la Navegacion Aerea y la Seguridad Aeronautica - SENASA (Spain)
          • IFP Energies Nouvelles - IFPEN (France)
          • WIP Renweable Energy - WIP (Germany)
          • EADS Innovation Works (France)

           

          012 April, 2024System Account

          CORE-JetFuel supports the European Commission in its dynamic and informed implementation of research and innovation projects in the field of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation. It links initiatives and projects at the EU and Member State level, serving as a focal point in this area to all public and private stakeholders.

           

          The project will evaluate the research and innovation “landscape” in order to develop and implement a strategy for sharing information, for coordinating initiatives, projects and results and to identify needs in research, standardisation, innovation and deployment, as well as policy measures at European level.

           

          Regional
          Research, technical centers, EC, NGOs
          All30_.000Full value-chain1.0
          Brazilian Biojetfuel Platform (BBP)Stakeholders Action GroupOn-going2012

          • Promoted the first biojetfuel commercial flight in Brazil on October 23rd, 2013, Aviator’s Day in Brazil.

          • Structured the “Flying Green Program”, a carbon footprint offset program, to provide a collaborative framework for concrete actions to achieve the Carbon Neutral Growth goal from 2020 (CNG2020). The program was conceived to bring together stakeholders to develop “green hubs” integrating sustainable biomass production, logistic optimization a nd development of blending and fueling infrastructure to support low carbon flights of participating airlines. Leveraging on the fact that Brazil will be hosting both the World Cup and Olympic Games, and on the commercial Amyris DSHC production facilities, and the forthcoming Q2 commissioning of the Solazyme plant in Brazil, the Platform intends to launch this program on June 5th, 2014 (International Environment Day) to kick off the CNG2020 program in Brazil, with the aim of achieving a 1% blending target for 2015. Proposal is being made to make this program a global CNG2020 initiative towards a checkpoint milestone every two years, offering cumulative numbers of GHG emissions savings of the industry.
           


          Website: http://cdieselbr.com.br/


          Coordinator: Mike Lu, Curcas Diesel Brazil LTDA -  mike.lu@cdieselbr.com.br​


          ItemBrazilBrazil12 April, 2024System Account

          Launched during the Rio+20 Summit in June 2012, BBP was formally structured in August 2013 as an open, collaborative, feedstock agnostic, multi-process platform bringing together key stakeholders for the implementation of a highly integrated bio-jet fuel and renewable value-chain in Brazil. 


          Short term actions include setting the initiative as the private sector interface for bilateral agreements on aviation biofuels and establish regular commercial flights to create demand for bio-jet fuel production in Brazil. It will use the DSHC production of Amyris in Brazil to start the deployment of low carbon flights in Brazil in 2014. BBP will also look at integrating family farming in pilot projects and in the Brazilian bio-jet fuel and renewables production chain.


          For the medium term, BBP will promote key components for the development of sustainable alternative fuels: public policies, infrastructure and introduction of sustainable feedstock alternatives. The initiative seeks to implement a Platform Management System covering feedstock production, fuel production and fuel end-use, with a Carbon Footprint Management System.


          In the longer term, BBP considers to develop strategic planning for concerted actions in the Americas and establish a Pan American Bio-jet fuel Initiative.


          Curcas Diesel Brasil, the integrator of the Platform, is also coordinating  together with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the feasibility studies for a HEFA pilot project in the Southeastern Hub of Brazil. This pilot HEFA biorefinery unit will produce biojetfuel and renewable chemicals, and will be collocated at a plant in the Paraiba Valley. Colocation will reduce capital expenditure and time to market, and will also leverage on existing rail and truck facilities for the logistics of both feedstock and products. In the initial stage, the project will use animal fat, used cooking oil, macauba, jatropha and camelina as feedstocks. 


           031

          A Governance body with an Advisory Board and Steering Committee was elected to promote the necessary actions to implement the biojetfuel value chain in Brazil.


          Advisory Board was set up with the following appointed members:

          • Mr. Adalberto Febeliano, ABEAR
          • Mr. Adilson Liebsch, UBRABIO
          • Mr. Al Bryant, BOEING
          • Mr. Gilberto Peralta, GE
          • Mr. Pedro Scorza, GOL Airlines

          Steering Committee is composed of:

          • Mr. Donato Aranda, UFRJ (Technology)
          • Mr. Fernando Correa, Byogy (ATJ)
          • Mr. Jamil Macedo, IICA(Feedstock)
          • Mr. Mario Fontes, Camelina Company Brasil (Camelina)
          • Mr. Mike Lu, Curcas (coordinator/integration)
          • Mr. Rodrigo Gabizo (GE Aviation)
          • Mr. Santiago Giraldo, SGB (Jatropha)
          • Mr. Takashi Kono
          • Mr. Walfredo Linhares, Solazyme (DSHC)

          012 April, 2024System Account

          The objective of the Brazilian Biojetfuel Platform (BBP) is to structure a global collaborative initiative focused on biomass production, logistic optimization and distributed processing to support  the implementation effort of the Carbon Neutral Growth from 2020 (CNG2020).​


          National
          Fuel producers, feedstock producers, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, universities
          All31_.000Full value-chain1.0
          Farm-to-FlyDeploymentOn-going2010

          • In January 2012, the initiative published the report “Agriculture and Aviation: Partners in Prosperity with the findings and recommendations of the FARM to FLY Working Team (link).
          The report concludes that Federal Government leadership and assistance are needed to create a bridge to an aviation biofuels industry that can be sustained exclusively by private capital. The focused commitment of limited government resources in the near term to support investment in biofuels innovation can help secure a future in which domestic businesses are the primary funders of a large share of commercial-aviation renewable fuel production.
          The report provides a complete overview of the initiative supported by USDA which contributes to the development and deployment of aviation biofuels.
          The report was accompanied by industry recommendations to government and other stakeholders. Industry underlined that support is needed to achieve proof of commercialization of aviation biofuel, i.e. to validate the business model for all elements of the supply chain. Having at least two successful commercial-scale projects in appropriate parts of the country was seen as a necessary precursor to private investment and scalable production on a broader national scale.

          • Through the "Farm to Fly 2.0" (F2F2) Public-Private-Partnership efforts, CAAFI continues to foster supply chain development activities in Connecticut, Vermont, Florida, Maryland/Delaware, New Jersey, Maine, and South Carolina. Several of these initiatives have recently submitted proposals, including:
            • ​​​​Vermont—Proposal to secure USDA Rural Development funding through the new Rural Development Enterprise Grant  to quantify reduced runoff potential of granular fertilizer in lieu of cow manure was formerly submitted prior to the April 30th requested deadline. The proposal is being supported by VT NRCS.
            • Maryland / Delaware—An RBDG proposal was submitted to Rural Development in Dover on April 28th to build a supply chain and examine its feasibility from collection of underutilized poultry waste streams and sludge from farms and rendering facilities.
            • Florida – An RBDG proposal aligned with the goals of the Fallow Fields Working Group was submitted to Florida Rural Development.  Awards are expected to be announced as early as June.
           

          Farm-to-Fly report: Link

           

          ItemU.S.A.U.S.A.12 April, 2024System Account

          The FARM to Fly initiative was launched in July 2010 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Airlines for America (A4A, formerly the Air Transport Association of America) and the Boeing Company.
           

          The partners created the FARM to Fly Working Team with the mission to consider and pursue actions that:
          • Can be taken within the existing statutory authority of USDA to promote the commercial-scale production of sustainable feedstock and the development of aviation biofuel production and distribution facilities; and
          • May require rulemaking, statutory changes or funding that could be recommended for upcoming budget or reauthorization consideration.

          In addition, USDA committed to work on feedstock for biojet fuel through its bioenergy and biomass programs, and the three partners agreed to use regional opportunities and pilot programs (in particular the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest – SAFN – and the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative - MASBI) to assess and evaluate means for meeting their mutual goals.


          In April 2013, the Farm-to-Fly partnership was extended by 5 years.  Now labelled Farm-to-Fly 2.0, the partners hope to be able to annually produce 1 billion gallons of drop-in aviation fuel by 2018.  The initiative also aims to support the economies of rural America by creating jobs and developing the bioeconomy, while simultaneously securing the future of energy production within the U.S. 

           

          In 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has also joined the Farm-to-Fly 2.0 partnership.  The DOE will assist in the technical areas of this initiative, supporting the production, certification, testing, and qualification of these fuels. 

           032

           

          U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Airlines for America (A4A), Boeing Company, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

           

          012 April, 2024System Account

          The FARM to Fly initiative’s purpose is to “accelerate the availability of a commercially viable and sustainable aviation biofuel industry in the United States, increase domestic energy security, establish regional supply chains, and support rural development”.

           

          National
          Government, Airlines, Manufacturers
          All32_.000Full value-chain1.0
          SOLAR-JET: Solar chemical reactor demonstration and Optimization for Long-term Availability of Renewable JET fuelResearch & DevelopmentClosed20112015
          • First ever production of synthesized "solar" jet fuel in April 2014: Link
          • Record energy conversion efficiency for solar thermochemical syngas production: Link
          • Results on climate impact and economic feasibility of solar jet fuel: Link
          • Received the First aireg-Award in November 2015: Link
          • In January 2016: Start of follow-up EU-Horizon2020 project SUN-to-LIQUID: Integrated solar-thermochemical synthesis of liquid hydrocarbon fuels under Grant Agreement nr. 654408
          ItemEuropeEurope12 April, 2024System Account

          The SOLAR-JET project was launched in 2011 and completed in 2015, and received €2.2 million of European Union funding from the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).
           

          The core of the SOLAR-JET project is a two-step solar thermochemical process. In a first step, carbon dioxide and water are converted in a synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) in a high-temperature solar reactor containing metal-oxide based materials. The syngas is then converted into kerosene using the established "Fischer-Tropsch" process.

          The aim of the project is to demonstrate the full process at laboratory scale and further assess the technology gaps, as well as the technological and economic scalability.
           

          SOLAR-JET scientific approach includes the following steps:

          • Definition of an assessment framework to estimate the substitution potential of kerosene and identify critical technology gaps;
          • Design and manufacturing of a solar chemical reactor to produce the syngas;
          • Development of a detailed modeling capability of heat transfer coupled with chemical reaction, allowing optimization of the system and scaling studies;
          • Demonstration of the whole process through the production of the first solar jet fuel;
          • An analysis of the technological potential and economic perspectives.
           033

          ETH Zürich, Bauhaus Luftfahrt, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Shell Global Solutions, Shell Research, ARTTIC

           

          012 April, 2024System Account

          ​SOLAR-JET is a collaborative research project that aims to ascertain the feasibility and potential for producing kerosene from concentrated sunlight, CO2 captured from air, and water.

          Regional
          Research organisations, fuel producers
          Solar fuel33_.000Fuel production1.0
          Sustainable Mallee Jet Fuel ProjectFeasibility StudyClosed20122014

          The project published its first report in May 2014, which provides an interim sustainability assessment showing that the production of biofuel from mallee complies with the RSB’s 12 principles for alternative fuel sustainability certification.


          The sustainability assessment was applied to established farm operations, with mallee planted specifically for jet fuel manufacture, over the period 2021–2051.


          Results showed that the mallee jet fuel obtained through the pyrolysis pathway achieves about 40% emissions reductions compared to conventional jet fuel. Further R&D and modeling are required to achieve the 50% threshold of the RSB standard.


          The analysis did not show evidence detrimental impacts on surface or groundwater resources. Mallee has also a positive impact on biodiversity and could be favourable to reduce soil erosion.


          The business plan of mallee production is still under investigation. Existing data show that the cost of jet fuel produced from mallee is currently not competitive with conventional jet fuel, but there are evidence that the costs are converging and mallee biomass could be cost competitive by the 2021.


          The report is available on Future Farm Industries CRC website​.

          • Dr John McGrath, Future Farm Industries CRC: john.mcgrath@futurefarmcrc.com.au


          ItemAustraliaAustralia12 April, 2024System Account

          The Sustainable Mallee Jet Fuel project was commissioned by Airbus and carried out by an existing consortium formed to investigate the large scale production of biomass from mallee eucalypts growns as short rotation coppice crops.

           

          The study included two parts:

           

          • the sustainability assessment of the proposed value chain according to the Roundtable for Sustainable Biomass (RSB) principles,

           

          • the comparative life-cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions, energy demand and fossil fuel use of mallee jet fuel and conventional jet fuel supply.        

          The assessment was performed for a case study consisting of a jet fuel value chain comprising the following components:  

          • a mixed farm (grain-livestock) located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, with 400-600 mm of annual rainfall;
          • a pyrolysis conversion facility with a conversion capability of 133 kt (dry) feedstock per year; and
          • an upgrading facility near Perth to upgrade the pyrolysis oil in jet fuel, with a supply capability of 13-20 Ml to Perth airport.

          Project partners provided data to the project; the CRC and its R&D partners conducted the supporting analyses, and RMIT University conducted the lifecycle assessment for greenhouse gas emissions.


           034

          Airbus, Axens, Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation (Dynamotive), Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), GE, IFPEN, Renewable Oil Corporation (ROC), Virgin Australia​


          012 April, 2024System Account

          The Sustainable Mallee Jet Fuel project’s goal is to assess the environmental, social and economic sustainability of a proposed value chain for the growing and conversion of mallee biomass to jet fuel and other biofuels.​

          Regional
          Airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers, research organisations
          Lignocellulosic feedstock, pyrolysis34_.000Full value-chain1.0
          Technical Feasibility of Bio-Based Jet Fuel Production in CanadaFeasibility StudyClosedOctober 2013September 2014

          Report is now completed and is being reviewed by the partners.
          The details and outcomes of the report are not yet public.

          Mena Salib, Mgr. Aircraft Noise & Emissions : mena.salib@aircanada.ca

          ItemCanadaCanada12 April, 2024System Account
          The initiative was launched in October 2013 by Airbus and Air Canada and commissioned to BioFuelNet Canada.
           
          The first phase of the study included:
          • A regional review of Canadian biomass feedstocks that could be used for production, such as solid waste, agricultural, and forestry derived feedstock;
          • An investigation and analysis of the four leading biojet production pathways;
          • A calculation of the anticipated efficiency and yield of the four conversion processes.

          The second phase focused on the analysis of two case studies to evaluate the feasibility of:

          • Initial short term commercial biojet production before 2020;
          • Large-volume Biojet Production beyond 2020.

          This included a preliminary economic modelling and an assessment of the life cycle impacts of biojet production with an emphasis on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

          The report includes recommendations on the next steps for the development of a biojet supply chain in Canada based on an fuel off-take approach only versus an equity/development approach.

           

           035

          ​Airbus, Air Canada, BioFuelNet Canada, Torchlight Bioresources

          012 April, 2024System Account

          To investigate potential biojet feedstocks in Canada and identify the most promising domestic production pathways by 2020 and beyond.

          Regional
          Airlines, manufacturers, academic, consultancy
          All35_.000Full value-chain1.0
          Project SolarisResearch & DevelopmentOn-goingDecember 2014

          ​50 hectares of the crop have been planted in Limpopo province. In the coming months, Project Solaris will be going through the various harvesting cycles at each site and work on the associated processing activities. First harvest is expected to take place between from20 December and  the 10th of January. Then, harvesting approximately every 45-55 days is expected.

           

          The opening of the Competence and Training center is expected in April 2015.


          September 2015:  Project Solaris gains RSB approval.

           

          ItemSouth AfricaSouth Africa12 April, 2024System Account

          ​Project Solaris was initiated by Sunchem SA and SkyNRG and officially launched in December 2014.

           

          Solaris is the name of an "energy tobacco variety that was developed by the Italian research and development company Sunchem Holding. The Solaris crop is a traditionally cross-bred (non-GMO) variety of tobacco that contains no nicotine, has excessive seed and limited leaf production compared to traditional tobacco. The seed cake is suitable for animal feed and the crop can be grown in rotation with cotton.

           

          The combination of available land (partly caused by the decreasing local conventional tobacco industry), a need for employment, the increased demand for sustainable bio-energy, and a good (regional) knowledge fundament to grow tobacco, is seen as providing an excellent opportunity to grow energy tobacco in SA. The crop can also benefit from the existing agricultural infrastructure in place for cotton cultivation.

           

          The project focuses on two axis of activities: agricultural operations and the creation of a competence and training center.

           

          The first axis will address seeds production and planting, fertilisation, harvesting, processing and transport. It involves both commercial and community farming.

           

          The Competence & Training (C&T) Centre will initially focus on capacity building and organizational development of the farmers in the Marble Hall area. The C&T Centre will provide information and support to farmers with their farming practices, by hosting regular meetings, site visits and workshops. The centre will be set-up by EcoSasa, supported by agricultural experts from Sunchem, SkyNRG, the region and involved research institutes.

           

           036

          Sunchem Biofuel Development South Africa, SkyNRG, RSB, Boeing, South African Airways, U.S.A, Netherlands, Italy

           

          012 April, 2024System Account

          ​The purpose of the project is to lay the basis for the development of a regional value chain for the supply of sustainable biojet fuel.

           

          In addition, the project is intended to support South African Airways’ environmental goals as well as national objectives for economic and rural development.

           

          Regional
          Crop company, airlines, manufacturers, fuel suppliers
          Oleaginous / Hydroprocessing36_.000Feedstock1.0
          Dutch Initiative - 'Bioport Holland'Stakeholders Action GroupOn-goingNovember 2013December 2019
          • ​Sustainable Bio Award ‘Collaboration of the Year 2013’ at the World Biofuels Market event.
          • Nominated as a High Impact Initiative within the UN Sustainable Energy for All program.

          Achievements will be updated in the course of the project

          Dutch Government
          Laurens van Sterkenburg
          laurens.van.sterkenburg@minienm.nl

          ItemThe Netherlands, FinlandThe Netherlands, Finland12 April, 2024System Account
          Stakeholders
          Bioport Hollands is a joint initiative of key stakeholders from the public and private domain in the Dutch aviation and biofuels industry: KLM, SkyNRG, Schiphol Airport, Neste Oil, Port of Rotterdam, the State Secretary of Infrastructure and the Environment and the Minister of Economic Affairs.
           
          Motivation
          The initiative’s stakeholders believe that the use of biofuels is the most important pathway for aviation to address the global challenge of climate change and achieve the sector’s ambitious goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Furthermore, reducing dependency on fossil fuels could increase energy independence.
           
          Directions of work
          To significantly increase the amounts of bio jet fuel available in the years ahead, the central objective is to create a sustainable biofuel market, in the Netherlands and in Europe, and to set-up a whole supply chain, which comply with strict environmental, economic and social sustainability criteria.
           
          Securing sustainable and price competitive feedstock, bringing existing technologies to market, as well as innovating in new technologies, and  generating a long-term market demand are the key axes identified by Bioport Holland to reach continuous supply and to meet environmental targets. A holistic approach with further cooperation between all partners is deemed to be essential for investments and innovations in all steps of the supply chain. This will be further elaborated in dedicated working groups that focus on feedstock, conversion and demand.
           
          The sustainability, availability and price level of bio feedstocks are the most important challenges for increasing production volumes and offtake. Development efforts should be focused on expanding the mix of the feedstock base. Feedstock projects have to be developed in collaboration with relevant feedstock industries, such as agriculture and the waste sector, to ensure the long term availability of sustainable and price competitive bio jet fuel.
           
          For bio jet fuel, new conversion technologies and techniques are needed beside short term upscaling of already approved technologies. Only by developing a diverse mix of different feedstock and conversion techniques it will be possible to upscale the production of bio jet fuel in the Netherlands, which is price competitive with fossil fuel. Technology development projects need to be done in collaboration with all supply chain stakeholders, such as industry, government, financing institutions, research institutions and NGOs. The focus of these projects will be on commercial production and on adding value to the sectors that have no alternatives to mitigate their climate impact.
           
          Stable, long-term market demand must be created in order to make investing in the development and production of aviation biofuels worthwhile. Long-term offtake agreements and governmental incentives, within their policy and regulatory framework, are needed to reduce the financial risk of investing in feedstock and conversion capacity. The aim is to meet price competitiveness with fossil fuels on a structural basis, which will be a crucial aspect for large scale structural offtake.

           

          Organisation
          To achieve the initiative’s goals, Bioport Holland is organised in several projects and working group addressing the following key topics:

          • Sourcing of sustainable and price competitive types of feedstock;
          • Analysis of conversion technologies and production opportunities for bio jet fuel and gradual scale-up in time;
            Policies and incentive mechanisms to stimulate market demand for sustainable bio jet fuel;
          • Blending, logistics, transport and certification;
          • R&D and pilot projects;
          • Communication, coordination and cooperation on a national, European and global level to stimulate the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels in aviation.
             
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          Partners: KLM, SkyNRG, Schiphol Airport, Neste Oil and Port of Rotterdam, the State Secretary of Infrastructure and the Environment and the Minister of Economic Affairs

          Collaborators: Feedstock developers, Manufacturers, Knowledge&Research institutions and NGOs.

           

          Participation of aforementioned parties in this process is expected to be dynamic and will not be limited to the list of key stakeholders as presented above.

          012 April, 2024System Account

          Working in close cooperation, the partners of ’Bioport for Jet Fuels in the Netherlands’ (Bioport Holland) are committed to promote a shift from single projects to the continuous production and supply of sustainable bio jet fuel for the Netherlands and Europe,  aimed at upscaling the deployment of sustainable biofuels in the aviation sector.
           
          The ambition is to position the Netherlands in the heart of the emerging European bio jet fuel market which envisions large volumes of sustainable and price competitive bio jet fuels available for commercial use in Europe as soon as possible. Therefore, the initiative will aim to offer a growth path for, and contribute to, the European Advanced Biofuels Flight Path 2020 targets.

          Regional
          Airlines, (air)ports, industry, fuel producers, authorities,  knowledge&research institutions, manufacturers, NGOs
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