The study is a component of the Sustainable Feedstocks for Aviation Fuels program, which the builds on recommendations from the CSIRO’s Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation roadmap, released in May 2011.
The first phase of the Sustainable Feedstocks for Aviation Fuels program will concentrate on three key elements over the next 12 months, including:
- Assessment of current and new biomass production systems based on feedstocks such as grasses and short rotation trees in combination with grazing or cropping in regional Queensland
- Assessment of potential fuel conversion technology to convert these feedstocks into jet fuels
- Assessment of appropriate production systems and technology types that will match with local infrastructure.
Michael Edwards, Australian General Manager of Boeing Research and Technology, said: “The roadmap made a compelling case for the development of a new Australian bio-based aviation fuel industry…especially in regional areas, cutting greenhouse emissions and reducing Australia’s reliance on aviation fuels imports by $2 billion per annum.”
“Aviation fuels made from biomass have been certified and are being used on commercial and military aircraft, so the challenge now is to find the right way to scale up feedstock production so these new fuels are both environmentally and economically sustainable,” continued Mr Edwards.
