'Value Chain' To Study Bio-Fuel Production To Reduce CO2
Emissions
The Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed
an agreement to develop a complete Spanish 'value chain' for
sustainable and renewable aviation bio-fuel for commercial use.
Other key members are expected to join the agreement shortly.
Signatories to the agreement signed in Madrid include Isaías
Táboas, Spain’s Transport Secretary of State,
Suárez, Antonio Vazquez, Iberia Airlines Chairman, and Tom
Enders, Airbus President and CEO.
The agreement promotes and backs initiatives to develop a
complete bio-fuel production chain for Spanish aviation, using
sustainable resources from production to consumption in commercial
aviation, with special consideration on economic and technical
analysis. “The implementation of biofuels by the Spanish
aviation industry for the development of a complete Spanish
“value chain” is a goal that will reduce our dependency
on fossil energy, make our companies more competitive by reducing
costs associated to CO2 and create value and wealth in other
sectors of our national economy," said Isaías Táboas.
“We are fully confident that both, the public and private
sector can cooperate in the development and implementation of this
initiative."
“Climate change is a major challenge for our industry. The
aviation sector’s ambitious CO2 reduction target is only
possible if bio-fuels become a reality. Under this initiative,
Iberia brings extensive experience in flight operations and in
aircraft maintenance to perform the necessary tests that will make
this goal a reality", said Antonio Vazquez.
Airbus’ focus is on providing expertise and management of
the feasibility, life cycle and sustainability analysis.
“Biofuels are a must for aviation to achieve our industry's
ambitious CO2 reduction targets. In fact, we believe that biofuels
should primarily be reserved for aviation as our industry has no
other viable alternative energy source,” said Tom Enders.
“All industry players including governments have a role in
helping to reduce global CO2 emission levels. Airbus is supporting
value chains to accelerate the commercialisation of aviation
bio-fuels.”
The value chain brings together farmers, oil-refiners and
airlines to spearhead the commercialisation of sustainable bio-fuel
production. Phase one of the project will be the feasibility study.
Phase two, will narrow down the most promising solutions to a
demonstration level, and phase three from 2014 onwards will look at
implementation and scaling up of the production process.
The initiative is being lead by the Air Safety State-Agency
(AESA) and the Services and Studies for Air Navigation and
Aeronautical Safety/Observatory of Sustainability in Aviation
(SENASA/OBSA), under the Ministries of the Environment, of Public
works and of the Industry.