The potential of biofuel: Powering jets

with algae written by Carl Freer

Wind energy can power streetlights. Electric vehicles are being pushed
to be a norm. Solar panels have reached consumer level, thanks to
Teslas Powerwall. The increasing popularity of alternative, sustainable
energy sources shows our collective understanding that Earths
resources are finite, and that our planet should be treated with more
respect. But who would have guessed that pond scum could one day fuel
a plane?
Bloomberg

Businessweek

recently

reported

(http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-07/this-pond-scu

m-already-in-your-smoothie-may-fuel-your-airplane)

on

Japanese-based Euglena Co. and their ambitious plans to create

algae-based bio jet fuel in the next few years. After a decade of
manufacturing a nutritional supplement out of green algae, which has
proven to be a multi-million dollar business, Euglena is now going to
explore partnerships with All Nippon Airways and other corporate
giants to commercialise bio jet fuel by 2020, according to Euglenas
president, Mitsuru Izumo.
This is also in line with the Japanese governments plans to power
commercial flights with bio jet fuel by the time the 2020 Tokyo Olympic
Games rolls around.
Why We Need Biofuels in Aviation
Biofuels can also be made from other types of biomass, such as
sugarcane and waste wood. While biofuels have been around for a
number of years already, aviation biofuel is a growing industry that is
attracting plenty of attention (and investment dollars).
The argument goes: while burning fossil fuels increases carbon
emissions, growing plants that will eventually become fuel serves to
remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. US presidential hopeful
Hillary

Clinton

was

recently

quoted

(http://freebeacon.com/politics/clinton-touts-selling-green-biofuels-to-

military/) as claiming that selling advanced biofuels to the Department

of Defense was one way to boost the economy.
The problem of pollution from aviation becomes much more serious
when you look at the numbers. Air travel produces over 600,000 tons of
CO2 in a year, representing 2% of human-induced CO2 emissions and
12% of emissions from all transport sources. The demand for air travel is
expected to increase by 4-5% per annum over the next 20 years, and an
estimated 1300 international airports will be needed by 2050;
sustainable flying needs to be made a priority.
Going Green to Save Some Green
According

to

the

Motley

Fool

(http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/08/25/oil-is-cheap-butthis-company-is-buying-3-million.aspx), switching to alternative fuel

sources may not just be a PR strategy for airlines - soon, they may be
required by law to reduce their carbon emissions through alternative
fuels.
A United Nations Agency called the International Civil Aviation
Organization will be implementing limitations on carbon emissions for
the commercial aviation industry over the next few years, and the US
Environmental Protection Agency announced in June that final ruling
on aircraft emission regulations will be released in 2018.

To line up bio jet fuel suppliers before the ruling passes, FedEx has
agreed to a 3 million gallon per year deal with US-based Red Rocks
Biofuel. Airlines are jumping on the bandwagon as well: Southwest
Airlines is also working with Red Rocks, while Alaska Airlines is teaming
up

with

Washington

State

University-led

Northwest

Advanced

Renewables Alliance to advance the production of bio jet fuel made from
wood.
The Big Names in Bio Jet Fuel
On the provider side - Red Rocks started construction this year on a 15
million gallon per year refinery in Oregon, which will convert
approximately 175,000 dry tons of woody biomass into at least 15
million gallons per year of renewable, liquid transportation fuels,
according to Biofuels Digest. The firm has received $70 million from the
U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy to help build its $182
million refinery, as part of an effort under the Defense Production Act
aimed at building 100 million gallons of cost-competitive renewable jet
fuel capacity.
In Europe, French-based O&G Total and five partners have ambitiously
committed
(http://www.total.com/en/energies-expertise/renewable-energies/biom
ass/strategic-partnerships/biotfuel-project-produce-biofuels-thermoche
mical-conversion) to producing 200,000 metric tons of biodiesel and
bio jet fuel per year from one million metric tons of biomass by 2020.

The BioTFuel project seeks to process three metric tons of biomass such
as straw, forest waste and dedicated energy crops per hour, and the test
phase is expected to be completed in 2017.
In The Future...
Several big players in the aviation industry have taken decisive steps
towards cleaning up their act, while suppliers are ramping up
production and boosting capacity in anticipation of demand. However,
cost may still be a deterrent.
As just one example, the US Congressional Research Service reported
(https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42859.pdf) in 2012 on how the
US Defense Department purchased alternative fuels for US $29 per
gallon, nearly nine times the cost of petroleum, and algae-made fuel for
US $149 per gallon from San Francisco-based Solazyme in 2009.
But once costs can be brought down through advances in technology and
production, government subsidies or competition from other producers,
bio jet fuel could represent a revolution in aviation. Soon, we could be
flying green - literally.

About Carl Freer

Carl Freer is one of the leading innovators and entrepreneurs in the 21st century.
Born in Sweden on the 9th of May, 1970, Carl Freer has founded several successful
companies which has revolutionised a number of industries. He first came into
the limelight by being the co-founder of Tiger Telematics Inc. Tiger Telematics
was the company behind the hugely popular Gizmondo hand-held gaming
console. He went on to start a new company called Aluminaid in Singapore.
Aluminaid invented a cutting edge metal bandage for treating burn injuries. He is
currently working towards developing a mobile technology which allows users to
directly visit the website of a company by just clicking the picture of the logo of
the company. He does not only develop the products but also look after the
aspects of product promotion.
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