IAPBA supports the development of sustainable alternative fuels for private and business aviation.
Sustainable fuels play a significant role in capping and reducing emissions from aviation and protecting our environment.
The challenge for our industry is to produce sufficient, secure, steady supplies that meet sustainability criteria, conforming and consistent with recognized standards.
Biojet fuel for example can deliver a significant reduction in global aviation CO2 emissions, and moreover further improvements are achieved when combined with aircraft improvements in aero, aircraft handling and software.
We have come a long way, yet IAPBA continues to support the journey into the future to ensure a sustainable aviation industry whilst protecting and representing the interests of our private and business aviation members.
The work of international programs such as the EU CleanSky initiative aims to develop fuel-efficient engines and aircraft; and programs such as the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) program ― a NextGen effort to accelerate development and commercial deployment of environmentally promising aircraft technologies aim to deliver sustainable alternative fuels.
Under this latter program, the FAA has awarded five-year agreements to Boeing, General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce. These companies will match or exceed the awards in this cost-sharing program expected to be $125 million over five years.
The initiative goals are to deliver certifiable aircraft technology that reduces aircraft fuel burn by 33 percent relative to current subsonic aircraft technology, and development of the use of “drop in” sustainable alternative jet fuels in aircraft systems and quantifying benefits.
‘Drop in’ fuels such as LanzaTech’s Alcohol to Jet (ATJ) technology is a technology that uses Ethanol derived via gas fermentation and is converted to drop-in jet fuel by established thermochemical pathways by conversion partners.
In addition to these developments LanzaTech is also developing alternative routes to jet fuel through their CO2-Lipid technology platform.
The journey to cleaner and more efficient fuels is challenging and yet exciting; IAPBA supports this journey whilst ensuring a sustainable private and business aviation industry for our members.