Features

The aviation industry is embarking on a strong growth journey following the turbulence of the Covid-19 years. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Global Outlook for Air Transport report released in June, noted that the recovery in air passenger traffic observed in 2022 continued its upward trajectory into the first quarter of this year. By March, industry-wide revenue…
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What if someone said that Oscar the Grouch, Sesame Street's lovable curmudgeon, has something to teach us about sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)? While Oscar may be more concerned with rubbish than jet fuel, his recent role as United Airlines' “Chief Trash Officer” highlights an essential truth - local waste can be a global treasure. Climate change is a pressing global challenge and aviation…
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Novozymes is a global biotechnology company based in Bagsværd, Denmark, which sees its purpose as finding biological answers for better lives in a growing world. The company has more than 6,700 employees across 33 countries and its focus is the research, development and production of industrial enzymes and microorganisms. In fact, Novozymes is the world's largest provider of enzyme and…
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From chicken nuggets to fish and chips, fried restaurant foods have one thing in common — they all generate tonnes of used cooking oil (UCO) per year. However, for Thumb BioEnergy, UCO is not a waste product. Instead, the Sandusky, Michigan, enterprise creates value by using UCO as a feedstock to produce biodiesel fuel. Renewable, cleaner burning biodiesel benefits communities in Michigan –…
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Emirates has reached an agreement with Shell Aviation for the supply of over 300,000 gallons of blended SAF for use at the airline’s international hub in Dubai. The first SAF delivery under the agreement is expected to commence before the end of the year, making it the first time that SAF is supplied through the Middle Eastern airport’s fuelling system. Focus on sustainability The…
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The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) successfully bunkered the third supply chain of a biofuel blend as part of its pilot to develop a quality, quantity and GHG abatement assurance framework for drop-in green fuels earlier in the summer. Partnering with tonnage provider Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), this GCMD-led trial involved the Kaupang, a mid-sized gas carrier equipped…
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In the quest for a greener and more sustainable future, the maritime industry has found itself at the forefront of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The European Union’s FuelEU Maritime regulation and the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decarbonisation strategy have set the scene for decades to come, in a critical transition for the shipping industry. With the…
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Much of the industry conversation on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is focused on production. Making more molecules available is important, but we also need to unlock the ability to deliver them to the aircraft. Perhaps the supply chain logistics are not as attention grabbing as production itself, but the industry has to focus on all aspects of the supply chain if we are serious about scaling…
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There have been several milestones in the history of aviation over the last 120 years. Of course, it all began with the Wright brothers and their short flight along the shores of Kitty Hawk that set the industry literally taking to the skies. Other milestones include Louis Bleriot’s foray across the channel – 22 miles – in 1909 and Charles Linbergh’s journey across the Atlantic, from…
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Biofuels play a key role in reducing greenhouse emissions by providing an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), modern bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source globally, accounting for 55% of renewable energy and over 6% of the global energy supply. The EIA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE) sees a rapid increase…
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Sufficient oxidation and cold stability is essential for the safe use of biodiesel (FAME). The additives used must not have any negative interactions with the FAME itself or the base diesel fuel and its additives. Only two antioxidants and one flow improver were able to pass the challenging no-harm tests in 2023 and be included on the no-harm lists. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, biodiesel)…
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The aviation industry has been working on bio-aviation fuels since the late 2000s. The first flight using bio-aviation fuel took off in 2008 - it was flown by Virgin Atlantic from London to Amsterdam. Since then, many more airlines have carried out flights using bio-aviation fuels. In 2009, the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) which sets a cap on how much CO2 can be emitted by different…
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When the US Congress expanded the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2007, some ill-informed environmental advocates and ideological academics started sounding the alarm bell. They argued farmers could not possibly produce enough grain to grow renewable fuel production while meeting traditional demands for animal feed. They claimed using more crops for renewable fuels would cause…
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Any review of business or technical development across Asia, whatever the subject, will almost inevitably highlight the region’s enormous potential. Looking at the way ahead for biofuels is certainly no exception, especially now. India’s leadership of the Global Biofuel Alliance, launched during the G20 summit in New Delhi at the beginning of September, heads the current list of Asia’s…
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