Energy Finance

Plane maker Airbus and diversified manufacturer Honeywell recently announced plans to develop a biofuel, in less than 25 years, that could satisfy some 33% of the worldwide fuel demand for commercial aircraft - without affecting food supplies.

Seems ambitious.

“Along with JetBlue Airways Corp. and International Aero Engines, they plan to produce fuel from vegetation and algae-based oils that do not compete with existing food production or land and water resources,” according to a recent report by the Houston Chronicle.

“In order to replace a significant portion of that jet fuel with bio-jet, we need to find something that has much greater yield than the current biomass sources available,” said Sebastien Remy, head of alternative fuels research programs for Airbus.

You bet.

Further to the Chronicle’s report, “On Wednesday, DuPont executives said a new joint venture with a Danish company will enable production of cellulosic ethanol that costs less to manufacture than corn-based ethanol and won’t drive up food prices. The companies plan to invest $140 million in the U.S.-based venture and hope to have a commercial-scale demonstration facility, making fuel from the leaves and stalks of corn and from the remnants of sugarcane stalks, operating by 2012.”

And this is expected to take place even though “engine modifications should not be required.”

Sounds good, but I wouldn’t want to be on the first plane to give it a go. Still, all cynicism aside, it could very well be a viable alternative to the current solution, which is to raise air tickets via “fuel surcharges” until only the very rich or very connected have access to air transportation.

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