Beginning next September, Europe's largest airline, Air France-KLM, will begin using a mixture of oil and old cooking oil to fuel several of its flights. This will be a fantastic step toward the decrease of earth dependency on fossil fuels. The business has probably needed to take out lots of personal installment loans to get the project finished.
Over 200 flights will use alternative fuels
Alternative fuel will likely be used by 200 flights that will go between Paris and Amsterdam for the first time ever. Biokerosene, produced from used oil, is chemically almost identical to traditional oil. It will require absolutely no refinancing to the airliners, and will pose no added danger whatsoever. The fuel could be refined from a variety of sources, including vegetable oil, grease and animal fat.
How Camiel Eurlings feels
Biokerosene will change how commercial flight works according to Air France-KLM managing director Camiel Eurlings:
"In November 2009 we demonstrated that it was technically possible to fly on biokerosene," he said. "Now, a year and a half after our first demonstration flight on Camelina, a new phase has been entered around the world, that of certification. Authorization will soon be granted to operate commercial flights on biofuel."
Government and sector incentives
A decision was made in 2007 by the International Air Transport Association. It determined that it wanted the air travel emissions to, by 2050, have zero carbon dioxide in them. And last year, the French government declared a major renewable energy investment plan. There will likely be $577 million in subsidies given out. Another $1.15 billion is going to be earmarked for low-interest loans to "cutting edge technology projects."
<p>On June 9, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which develops international standards for the construction, manufacturing and transportation industries, granted first approval for airlines to make use of blends of conventional fuel and biofuels. The percentage of biokerosene to traditional kerosene that is to be used by Air France-KLM remains uncertain at this time.</p>
It takes more money than there is
Getting up to 100 percent biofuel still costs far too much. It is the biggest obstacle, Eurlings explained.
"The costs of biofuels need to come down substantially and permanently. This can be achieved through innovation, collaboration and the right legislation that stimulates biofuel in the airline industry -- but with an eye on honest competition."
Citations
Glove Box
blog.arguscarhire.com/france-to-power-airplanes-with-cooking-oil/
Edmonton Journal
edmontonjournal.com/travel/France planes cooking September/4991927/story.html
Mother Nature Network
mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/air-france-to-power-planes-with-cooking-oil
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