Aviation fuel from nonedible plant soars

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Several airlines have now successfully tested biofuel made from the little known, non-edible plant Jatropha. Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Continental, Brazil’s TAM Airlines and most recently the Mexican carrier Interjet, in cooperation with European manufacturer Airbus, have flown without problems on fuel from this weed-like plant, which grows on land otherwise unusable for farming.

A March 2011 report by Yale’s School of Environmental Studies, funded by Boeing, concluded that “Jatropha can deliver strong environmental and socioeconomic benefits.”

Australian-based Mission NewEnergy, Limited, the largest producer of Jatropha by acreage planted, currently employs more than 140,000 formerly impoverished farmers in India now earning a living cultivating Jatropha without compromising food supply or food pricing. The company is currently distributing product in Europe, and launching its U.S. operations.

The Yale study projected greenhouse gas reductions of up to 60% from Jatropha-based fuel compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.

Source : http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/11/idUS165579253420110411

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 2, 2013 at 10:15 AM

    Aviation fuel is used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications.... Australia and the USA oppose a worldwide levy on aviation fuel, but a number of other countries have expressed interest.
    Cheap Aviation Fuel

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