Lack of supply limits biofuel trial
February 27, 2012, 10:30 am
Alaska Airlines recently reported a supply shortage forced the company to use 20 percent biofuel during its 75-flight biofuel trial commercialization program. Derived from used cooking oil, the fuel was produced in Louisiana and refined in Texas, while being sourced from a broker in the Netherlands. Because the supply chain was so intricate, the cost of running the trial increased, forcing the company to only use 20 percent biofuel, Biofuels Digest reported.
In addition, Lufthansa in Germany had to end its flight trial using biofuels due to a shortage of resources. The flight in January to Washington was its last of the trial, because the company was not able to secure long-term sources of biofuel. Lufthansa expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by what is used to fuel six flights between Hamburg and Frankfurt during the trial, the source reported.
According to Flight Global, these instances of supply and pricing issues are becoming more common and remain the most significant obstacles in the development of biofuel in the aviation industry. In response to these barriers, the U.S. government has increased its support of biofuel trials in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and become less dependent on foreign oil.
The trial conducted by Alaska Airlines was quite extensive, but United Continental Airlines operated a single flight using a biofuel blend, to be the first U.S. commercial flight with engines running partially on alternative fuels. Previously, United Continental used the Boeing 737-800 to perform a two-engine demonstration using biofuels composed of algae and jatropha. In November, the single flight from United Continental used a 40:60 algae derived blend, the source reported.
Alaska Airlines was only able to test a 20 percent blend derived from used cooking oil, but the trial was still the first time a Bombardier Q400 turboprop was flown with a biofuel blend. The airlines had to settle for a 20 percent blend due to supply and logistics challenges, the source reported.
Keith Loveless, vice president of corporate and legal affairs for Alaska Airlines, told the source that the factors holding up biofuel development is not willingness or interest in the industry. Rather, it is a lack of an efficient and affordable supply and international cooperation to enable testing to take place. Carriers are facing inflated prices if they wish to research or use biofuels, as the technology has yet to become more affordable in the short term. Alaska Airlines paid about $17 per gallon for the cooking oil-derived biofuel, compared with $3.14 per gallon for jet fuel.
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