As if the prospect of having the entire aviation industry bidding for your services was not enough, the research team that proves itself the first to deliver commercially viable renewable aviation fuels could also soon find itself eligible for a multimillion dollar prize.
The US Department of Transport last week announced that it is to work with the X Prize Foundation, which famously awarded the $10m Ansari prize to the first private manned space flight, to develop new monetary incentives for the development of renewable aviation fuels and technologies designed to curb the sector's carbon footprint.
"The race to refuel American aviation is on and our hope is that the X Prize will jump-start investment and spur innovation," said US Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters. "It will be a competition that everyone wins, because a breakthrough in alternative jet fuels is a potential game-changer that could bring lower airline fuel costs, [and deliver] greater US energy independence, and cleaner air."
The X Prize Foundation is will now undertake a 14 month consultation with the aviation industry and independent experts as it seeks to draw up the rules for the competition and identify prize sponsors.
It said that the primary aim of the prize would be to "speed up the development and implementation of cost-effective renewable aviation fuels and technologies that have an environmental life-cycle benefit and do not present potentially negative side effects, such as the displacement of food production, or the inducement of land use changes that lead to additional greenhouse gas emissions".
Research into alternative jet fuels has already attracted considerable investment from the aviation sector, with Virgin Atlantic earlier this year undertaking the first flight of a commercial airliner powered by a mixture of biofuel and conventional fuels, and Rolls Royce and British Airways last week announcing a major new test programme to assess the viability of alternative fuels.
However, the X Prize Foundation has a strong track record of bolstering R &D spending having prompted a tenfold increase in investment in private sector research into manned suborbital space flight through its initial Ansari prize.
New liquid-to-gas fuel promises to improve air quality and could help curb carbon emissions 13 Oct 2009
Airline says entire fleet operating from London City airport could be using bio jet fuel from 2014 15 Feb 2010
Shipping giant predicts Jatropha and switchgrass-based biofuels could power its fleet of aircraft 05 May 2009
Growing coalition of airlines announces plan for new research into biofuels made from salt water plants 15 Jul 2009
Climate Change Committee argues that the cut in the UK's total emissions will have to be more aggressive to help aviation industry achieve its goals 09 Sep 2009
Cameron presents pre-election energy policy, promising greater investment certainty for low-carbon projects, green loans for households, and streamlining of planning system 19 Mar 2010
Joint statement from carbon exchange and Hungarian government aims to restore confidence in CER market 19 Mar 2010
Pilot project aims to establish the provenance of tin and other metals exported from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo 19 Mar 2010
More news
As a journalist, I spend a fair amount of time defending the much maligned media industry to friends and family.... 18 Mar 2010
Andrew Williams casts his eye over some of the most popular green driving aids on the market 16 Mar 2010
From hydropower hot spots to record-breaking Texan winds, we run down the top stories from the past week 12 Mar 2010 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
