BIOMASS HUB

Algal biofuels took flight this week at an airshow in Berlin.  The test flight marks a major milestone in the development of scalable aviation biofuels.

Curt Epstein of AIN Online reports that EADS flew the first aircraft powered solely by algae biofuel today at the ILA Airshow in Berlin as part of the daily flying display.

Dr. Jean Botti, the company’s chief technical officer, notes:

Our pure biofuel flight from algae is a world first and an exciting milestone in our research at EADS.  This opens up the feasibility of carbon-neutral flights.

Exhaust gas measurements show that the algae-derived fuel contains one-eighth the hydrocarbons of kerosene and greatly reduced nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxides as a result of the new fuel’s low nitrogen and sulfur content.

The Austrian-built Diamond Aircraft DA-42 NG’s two Austro Engine AE300 diesels required only minor adjustment to burn the biofuel, which is supplied by German processor VTS from algae oil provided by Biocombustibles del Chibut in Argentina.

In February 2010, Biofuels Digest reported that Singapore’s national Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences announced a partnership with aerospace and defense contractor EADS to develop renewable jet fuel from algae.  The 12-month project is examining the feasibility of kerosene production from microalgae.

As Biomass Intel reported March, aviation demand for biofuels is bursting at the seams.  Hemmed in by emerging certifications, a petroleum-based distribution network, and lack of supply, the industry is stuck on petroleum fuels for now, but not by choice.  Algal biofuel promises scalability on a level not possible with dedicated energy crops.

According to the Air Transport Association (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading US airlines, fuel expenses have historically ranged from 10 to 15 percent of US passenger airline operating costs, but averaged more than 35 percent in the third quarter of 2008.  Projections from the IEA suggest that oil prices will remain high in the near term.

According to the Agency, $40 oil is still high and capacity constraints, geopolitical uncertainties, and demand growth will not disappear overnight and will continue to provide price support for alternative aviation biofuels.  Long term is anyone’s guess, but the oil market’s growing volatility is driving demand for alternative sources of fuel.

Considered among the feedstocks with the greatest potential for widespread use, algae grows rapidly and its cultivation does not compete with food production since it can be farmed on non-arable land using non-potable water or even salt water.  EADS’ test flight marks a major breakthrough for algal fuels, which has remained a hot feedstock since ethanol’s dramatic fall from grace several years ago.

More on the first algal-based flight.

Image: Flickr/AgriLife