Biofuels could replace jet fuels in 5 years

Biofuels could be used to replace jet fuel in less than five years after recent tests by plane-maker Boeing, while the industry says it is putting billions of dollars into improving its environmental impact. Boeing’s Director for Environmental Strategy, Billy Glover, said results from recent test flights using biofuels such as jatropha and algae had been “better than expected”, meaning a partial replacement for jet fuel could begin in “three to five” years. The industry predicts that if 100% of all jet fuel was replaced with biofuels it would cut airline carbon emissions by 80%. EADS-owned rival Airbus planned its first commercial test flight with biofuels this year, said Axel Krein, the company’s senior vice-president of research & technology. The question is, when is that date?” he said, forecasting that 30% of fuel could come from plants by 2030. “Concerns about the environment and what aviation does to the environment I believe are long-term,” he said. (June 20, 2009)