Biofuels in Aviation – New energy technologies
By Adina Moloman
Sources: European Biofuels Technology Platform, Renewable Energy World
Worldwide organism and organizations express concerns that measures should be taken in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For such there are many proposals of integrated policies on climate change that includes different aspects, such as technical (research and innovation in the field of sustainable alternative fuels), environmental, business and economic aspects.
Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils and animal fats and is used to produce biofuel which are considered to be CO2 neutral. Corn-produced ethanol has been the most common resource used for mixing with gasoline. Some side effects have been detected like corrosion from the ethanol.
In the last five years the use of biofuels was considered for off-road equipment such as vehicles used in agriculture, mining, forestry, construction, power and heat production, which mostly use diesel fuel and were easier to adapt them for biodiesel use.
Starting in October last year the first commercial flight was tested using biokerosene by the Boeing company, it has shown the viability of biofuel use in the aviation industry to power aircraft.
Since then, In June 2012, Air Canada flew its first flight using biofuels produced from recycled cooking oil. The flight from Toronto to Mexico City, supported by Airbus, was especially prepared for the G20 meeting held in Baja California Sur, to be in the spirit of the event. Demonstration flight using jet fuel (produced from sugarcane) took place in April 2012 by Porter Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Qantas and in June 2012, by Azul Brazilian Airlines.
In March 2012 Airbus, Boeing and Embraer, all of them with Mexican manufacturing plants, operating under the Mexico Maquiladora Program, signed a collaboration agreement to accelerate the commercialization of sustainable biojet fuel.
The USA is currently the world’s biggest producer of biofuels, followed by Brazil and China.
In Mexico there are companies working to produce the fuel from animal fats, jatropha especially in Chiapas, vegetable oils and nopal. Interesting projects are coming along for bioethanol production using agave, which is used to make Tequila, as well as maize and soy.
So far, most of Mexico’s biodiesel production was promoted for export to Europe and the bioethanol output is also exported to the U.S.
