Boeing Says Three Years Til We're Flying Green

At least one exec at Boeing thinks that biofuel powered planes are coming. Maybe sooner than we think.

Darrin Morgan, who oversees strategy development and execution for Boeing's Sustainable Biofuels Program, told Wired.com that the company expects a bio-fuel blend jet fuel to be certified sometime within the next three years, at which point it would be cleared for use in commercial jets.

Morgan says that while algae holds great promise, it is a family of fuels called synthetic paraffinic kerosene, which includes those distilled from the
oils of Helianthus (sunflowers) and jatropha, that are closest to becoming certified. "We think it's going to happen in three to five years," Morgan says of the certification process. "Faster than most people thought."

Morgan's confidence comes in part because synthetic paraffinics have a
similar make up as coal-to-liquid fuel, which is already approved and
in use. "It's dirty, but it's certified," Morgin says of liquid coal
"If you fly in or out of
South Africa, you're probably using it." South Africa is home of
Sasol,
the company that pioneered coal to liquid technology." Morgan points
out that compared to liquid coal, bio-derived synthetic paraffins can
significantly reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

And synthetics are drop-in fuels, which means they can be used in
existing engines, no modifications required. "It's simple chemistry,"
Morgan says. "If molecules in a biofuel are like those in already
approved drop-in synthetic kerosene from coal, then by definition it's a
drop-in fuel."

The industry seems to be getting on board. One biofuel test after
another has been announced by airlines, plane manufacturers, and engine
makers this  past year. Boeing is working with Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic, Airbus has partnered with Honeywell and JetBlue, and British Airways is working with Rolls Royce. 

While Morgan and Boeing see certification happening in the next half
decade, that doesn't mean you'll fly to your next class reunion in a
biofuel powered jet. For one thing, the world's commercial airline
fleet burns something like 85 billion gallons of fuel every year. That's
a lot of jatropha, and finding the resources to grow it will be a
challenge.

Price is another issue. The airlines talk a good environmental game,
and they may very well want to get clean, but if the price of oil
continues dropping toward more manageable levels, the industry might
not feel quite the same urgency when it comes to switching over to biofuels.

Photo: Boeing Media