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Lufthansa to start biofuel flights in 2011

  • Märkte: Biofuels, Emissions, Oil products
  • 29.11.10

London, 29 November (Argus) — German airline Lufthansa and Finnish refiner and biofuels producer Neste have signed an agreement that will see Lufthansa begin commercial flights using Neste's renewable jet fuel from spring next year.

Flights will begin after official approval has been received from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), allowing the use of jet fuel produced using Neste's proprietary NExBTL jet fuel.

Lufthansa's flight programme is part of a development project supported by the German ministry of economics and technology that, in addition to Lufthansa, involves companies such as German engine manufacturer MTU and Deutsche Airbus.

Flights will take place between Frankfurt and Hamburg in Germany during the initial phase. The aircraft on the route will use a blend of 50pc NExBTL jet fuel and 50pc fossil fuel-based jet fuel in one engine, while the other engine will use conventional jet fuel.

Fuel quality is a critical issue in the aviation industry. Aviation fuel needs to have a high energy content and be capable of dealing with the extremely cold temperatures at the altitudes at which aircraft travel.

Aviation growth will be carbon-free from 2020 under a target agreed by the member airlines of the International Air Transport Association, requiring large-scale adoption of renewable fuels. Flights to and from EU destinations will be included in the EU emissions trading scheme from 2012. Airlines will be required to offset their emissions using emissions certificates or use renewable fuels. But aviation will not be covered by a biofuel mandate, in contrast to road traffic.

This is the first announcement that renewable fuel will be used on regular scheduled flights. Brazil's TAM Airlines and Airbus conducted the first jatropha-based biofuel flight in Latin America last week, using an Airbus A320. Technology firm Honeywell subsidiary UOP processed the biofuel used on the flight, which was a 50pc blend of locally sourced Brazilian jatropha-based bio-kerosine and conventional aviation kerosine.

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