Canadian airlines go for biofuels take off

Air Canada and other Canadian airlines are seeking to procure biofuels from local sources instead of transporting it from abroad to meet demand, according to reports from Canadian Press Enterprises.

The country’s top airlines say resource-rich Canada has the potential to become a biofuel superpower by transforming forest residue and agricultural crops into energy that can help the industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Canada actually has an opportunity like no other country where it can displace large amounts of fuel and reduce large amounts of carbon,” Mena Salib, Air Canada’s manager of aircraft noise and emissions, said after speaking to a global biotech conference, the Canadian Press Enterprises reported.

Salib said the industry wants to procure biofuels from local sources instead of transporting it far to meet demand.

“The prize would be technology from Canada, the feedstock is from Canada and it is used by Canadians.”

The country’s largest airline has been part of several flight tests to study biofuels and is ready to add the lower carbon energy blends when they are readily available.

The aviation industry is looking for ways to cut its environmental footprint and achieve the global goal of becoming carbon neutral after 2020 and to halve net emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

While Air Canada and WestJet don’t have a preference for using farm crops, forest residue or consumer waste, the airlines say the inputs must be sustainable and not displace food or land.

Costs would also have to come down by using government incentives to encourage companies to boost supply.

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