Mon, Dec 13, 2010
Airbus Supports Tam Airlines, Curcas, Brasil Ecodiesel To
Establish Renewable Jet Fuel Processing Plant, Biofuel
"Value-Chain"
A group of companies led by Curcas, which specialises in
Brazilian renewable energy project development, and the Brazilian
biofuel producer, Brasil Ecodiesel are working in parallel with TAM
Airlines, Airbus and AirBP – the jet fuel distribution unit
of BP – to establish a bio-kerosene jet-fuel processing plant
in Brazil. The project is aimed at gradually substituting fossil
fuel in aviation with biofuel. On November 22nd a major milestone
was accomplished when TAM Airlines and Airbus performed the first
Jatropha-based biofuel flight in Latin America, using an Airbus
A320 aircraft.
TAM A320
“Airbus is bringing together farmers, oil-refiners and
airlines to spearhead the commercialisation of sustainable biofuel
production in Brazil and worldwide,” says Paul Nash, Airbus
head of New Energies. “As well as analysing the suitability
of potential biofuels for aviation, Airbus is also supporting
life-cycle and sustainability projects to ensure that any CO2
emissions-reducing solutions have a positive ‘social’
impact and do not compete with local resources including land, food
or water,” he added.
The initiative which began in 2009, involved TAM acquiring
sufficient jatropha-based oil to conduct the A320 demonstration
flight. The jatropha grains produced by farmers throughout
agricultural areas in Brazil, were refined through an oil
extraction process and exported to the US, where it was processed
into bio-kerosene by UOP LLC (a Honeywell Company) to make a 50:50
blend with regular aviation kerosene.
Curcas’ CEO Rafael Abud said: “We are working on an
integrated collaborative approach by putting together strong
partners from the aviation and the biofuels segments with the
purpose of developing a fully integrated ‘value-chain’
in Brazil, from plant sciences and feedstock development to the
distribution of the fuel at the airports.” He adds “In
this initial phase we will conduct all studies necessary to verify
sustainability and economic viability of producing bio-kerosene.
This project strengthens the Brazilian leadership in biofuels and
will produce relevant environmental and social benefits."
Brasil Ecodiesel’s CEO José Carlos Aguilera said:
“The bio-kerosene market is a reality and promises
significant growth potential, especially since the European Union
has included aviation as an important element for global carbon
emission reductions. Our participation in this pioneering project
is aligned with our plans for diversifying our biofuel
portfolio”.
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