This week, the White House released a new research & development (R&D) strategy dedicated directly to the future development of alternative fuels for aviation – or alternative jet fuels (AJFs) – on a large commercial scale.
The strategy, which acknowledges the difficulties in getting biofuels to market and in commercial use due to normal jet fuel price volatility, as well as financial and regulatory barriers, sets out a series of 5 year points to achieve successful milestones relating to issues such as: feedstock development, production and logistics, fuel conversion and scale-up, and fuel testing and evaluation.
The document has been developed by a joint working group, set up by the President’s National Science and Technology Council, and is signed and supported by representatives of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, the Office of the Secretary of State of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Here in the UK, our industry is also focused on ensuring and supporting the development of alternative fuels. Sustainable Aviation – a group made up of manufacturers, airlines, airports and air navigation service providers, has put together a Sustainable Fuels Road Map. Overall, the roadmap has forecast that a clear and effective strategy to develop biofuels in the UK, could result in reducing UK Aviation emissions by up to 24% by 2030, creating 4,400 jobs and contributing £265m to the UK economy.
The future introduction of AJF’s will also be key a part of the basket of measures seeking to reduce the environmental impact of global aviation, set out by ICAO. In only a few months, ICAO will meet for its 39th General Assembly – where a clear indication of support for the development of a global market based measure will go a long way in showcasing the aviation world’s commitment to sustainable growth.
