Qatar Airways yesterday undertook the world's first commercial flight using a fuel made partly from natural gas that promises to improve air quality and could curb carbon emissions.
The Airbus flight from London Gatwick to Doha used a 50:50 blend of synthetic gas-to-liquid (GTL) kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene, which has been developed by Shell.
The company said that the GTL fuel burns with close to zero sulphur dioxide emissions and far lower particulate emissions, and as such could be used to help improve air quality around airports.
The fuel is also believed to have a slightly higher fuel density than conventional kerosene and as a result could deliver cuts in carbon emissions when the fuel is burned.
Overall, the full lifecycle of the GTL blend has a carbon footprint that is "comparable" to conventional aviation fuels, but it is thought that there is potential to reduce emissions through the production process for the fuel and as a result it could ultimately result in net carbon savings.
Qatar is currently working on a major new project to develop GTL jet fuel in commercial quantities. The Pearl GTL plant, which is currently under construction by Qatar Petroleum and Shell, is expected to produce around one million tonnes per annum of GTL kerosene from 2012, enough to power a typical commercial airliner for half a billion kilometres when used in a 50 per cent blend with conventional fuel.
Rainer Ohler, senior vice president for public affairs and communications at Airbus, said that as well as demonstrating that cleaner-burning GTL fuels are viable, the flight will also provide a boost to other projects working to develop aviation biofuels that could deliver deep cuts in carbon emissions.
"The journey from the A380's historic first GTL flight by a civil aircraft to today's historic first passenger flight using GTL, shows that drop in fuels are real and viable," he said. "This is a major breakthrough that brings us closer to a world where fuels made from feedstocks such as wood-chip waste and other biomass are available for commercial aviation. Airbus predicts that in 2030, up to 30 per cent of jet fuel will be alternative."
Synthetic biodiesel to be used by ground vehicles, but supplier confident it can also serve aviation market 19 Aug 2009
Airline says entire fleet operating from London City airport could be using bio jet fuel from 2014 15 Feb 2010
Airline accused of hypocrisy after following commitment to cut aviation sector emissions with opening of new route between London City Airport and New York 29 Sep 2009
Committee on Climate Change to recommend flight numbers fall drastically 08 Dec 2009
Pratt & Witney says industry will have biofuels ready for commercial use by 2011 03 Aug 2009
Experts reveal public and private sector procurement professionals are increasingly willing to demand suppliers fall into line with green best practices 16 Mar 2010
Community projects designed to accelerate the rollout of onsite renewables and energy efficiency makeovers 16 Mar 2010
Lord Hunt releases Marine Action Plan ahead of anticipated announcement of around 700MW of new wave and tidal energy projects 15 Mar 2010
More news
From hydropower hot spots to record-breaking Texan winds, we run down the top stories from the past week 12 Mar 2010
Few debates cast the UK's business and political community in such an unedifying light as the never-ending row over skills.... 12 Mar 2010
Christian Kjaer, chief executive of the European Wind Energy Association, argues that a supergrid is essential to EU efforts to cut carbon emissions 11 Mar 2010 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
