Next time you’re cooking up a storm in your kitchen spare a thought for the passengers on board an A330 Qantas flight from Sydney to Adelaide on Friday, 13 April.
This auspicious flight will be powered by recycled cooking oil from commercial kitchens that is mixed with jet fuel that emits 60% less carbon dioxide.
The recycled cooking oil comes from restaurants in the US and is further refined and fully certified for use in commercial aviation and endorsed by the World Wildlife Fund.
Virgin Australia is moving ahead with plans to source and refine aviation fuel from WA mallee trees.
European plane maker Airbus is joining this effort, which also involves US giant General Electric and Australia’s Future Farm Industries CRC.
The project aims to have an alternative fuel production pilot plant operating in Australia within the next year.
Qantas’ head of environment, John Valastro, said the goal of next month’s biofuel flights was to raise awareness about the potential for sustainable fuel in Australia.
“We know that sustainable aviation fuel can be used in commercial aviation just like conventional jet fuel,” Mr Valastro said.
“But until it is produced at a commercial scale, at a competitive price, the industry will not be able to realise its true benefits.
“No single player can make this happen. It needs support from government, private sector investment, access to infrastructure and market demand.”
Biofuels for aviation are significantly different to those for other industries because of a jet engine’s need for high-energy yield.
Biofuels will eventually enable the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint because the biofuel feed stocks – which could include algae and the crop camelina – will absorb as much carbon dioxide when growing as they emit when burnt in a jet engine.
Typically, aviation biofuels, unlike many other biofuels, are from feed stocks such as algae or from plants such as jatropha that have no impact on food crops.
Just remember there are lots of things you can do at home to reduce your carbon footprint. Try to reduce your waste, reuse items whenever you can, recycle paper, cardboard, bottles and so on, and to take things a step further try carbon offsetting at www.yonderr.com.au
Source: thewest.com.au