Etihad flying high after plant-based fuel powers plane to Amsterdam
Etihad Airways operated the country’s first commercial flight powered in part by locally made biofuel, generated from plants grown in Abu Dhabi desert, saltwater and seafood.
The airline said yesterday that the seed oil in the biofuel for Flight EY77 from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam was processed and delivered by Adnoc in a push to develop sustainable jet fuel.
“It’s a small step for mankind but a giant leap for us,” said Tony Douglas, chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group. “It shows that we can change carbon emissions in aviation.”
Airlines have experimented with biofuels for years with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, but that journey has experienced some turbulence as a result of irregular investments and, occasionally, the temptation of cheap oil.
Airlines account for just two per cent of global carbon emissions, but the industry’s rapid growth and forecast expansion have encouraged regulators and company executives to take a closer look at the sector’s environmental impact.
The International Air Transport Association has set a target to halve aviation’s carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005 levels.
About 160,000 passenger flights have flown on a blend of sustainable and traditional jet fuel since the first biofuels were certified for commercial use in 2011.
The biofuel used in the flight to Amsterdam was produced by the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium, a non-profit organisation established by the Masdar Institute, which is part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology.
Sustainable fuel for the flight was derived from oil in Salicornia plants grown on a two-hectare farm in Masdar City, which produces fuel and food in saltwater.
Fish and shrimp raised at the centre provide nutrients for the plants as well as contributing to the country’s food production.
The biofuel is blended directly with jet fuel and does not require any modifications to aircraft, engines or airport fuel delivery systems.
The airline said that the initiative supports the aviation sector, the oil and gas industry, food production and the creation of a new agricultural alternative in the country.
Over the next few years, the system is expected to scale up to 200 hectare in a move towards full-scale commercial implementation.
It shows that we can change carbon emissions in aviation TONY DOUGLAS Chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group