New tobacco plant produces sustainable jet fuel

Boeing are collaborating with South African Airways (SAA) and SkyNRG to produce sustainable aviation biofuel from a new type of tobacco plant.

SkyNRG is increasing the production of a hybrid plant called Solaris as an energy crop that farmers can cultivate as a replacement of traditional tobacco. The plants are currently being tested in South Africa, with both small and large farms expected to commence biofuel production in the next few years.

To begin with, oil from the plant's seeds will be converted into jet fuel. Boeing then hopes that innovative technologies will increase biofuel production in the foreseeable future.

'We strongly believe in the potential of successfully rolling out Solaris in the southern African region to power sustainable fuels that are also affordable,' says Maarten van Dijk, chief technology officer, SkyNRG.

In October 2013, Boeing and SAA announced they were collaborating on an initiative to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in southern Africa. As part of that project, the duo are working with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials to provide farmers with small plots of land to grow biofuel feedstocks.