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Plane biofuel to be made from eucalyptus to help cut greenhouse emissions
- With the aviation industry becoming increasingly focused on carbon emissions as trading schemes are set up around the world, and more and more people take to the skies, a possible answer to the problem lies in Australia's gum trees.
A consortium of companies is taking action by using eucalypt trees to develop a commercial biofuel for the Australian aviation industry.
An Australian company, GE Australia and New Zealand is joining forces with Virgin Australia and other partners to research and develop the commercial biofuel which is to be made from the eucalyptus trees. "Innovation and creativity will play enormous roles as part of the transition to a low carbon future," says Ben Waters, director of ecomagination, GE Australia and New Zealand.
The focus will be on using a thermochemical decomposition of organic material - at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen - to covert mallee eucalypt trees to the biofuel.
Waters said a pilot biofuel production unit would be opened in Australia next year.
"We already invest a huge amount in the development of more efficient and alternative energy sources in the aviation industry and beyond, and we hope to bring a huge amount of knowledge to this partnership," he said.
A recent CSIRO report estimated the aviation industry could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent, generate more than 12,000 jobs and reduce Australia's reliance on aviation fuel imports by $2 billion per annum over the next 20 years through the adoption of biofuels.
Other members of the consortium include Renewable Oil Corporation, the Future Farm Industries CRC, and Canadian biofuels company, Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation.
