Gum trees for Virgin fuel

Virgin Australia, Richard Branson’s airline, is to fuel its planes with biofuel derived from gum trees.

In the first project of its kind in the world, the airline has partnered with the Renewable Oil Corporation, Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation (DYMTF) and Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (FFI CRC), to process eucalyptus trees into fuel in a Western Australian-based plant.

The development is expected to aid Australian research into biofuels, whilst also benefiting local farming communities.

The type of tree being used, called mallee, can be planted within the wheatbelt region and is good for the surrounding environment because it reduces dryland salinity and offers protection from the wind erosion, creating improved shelter for livestock.

The demonstration plant is expected to be up and running by 2012 with the commercial-scale plant scheduled for operation by 2014, depending on the fuel’s efficiency.