Tag Archives: airline
Boeing, SAA Launch Sustainable Aviation Biofuel Effort
By Boeing | October 14, 2013 Boeing and South African Airways have announced that they will work together to develop and implement a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa, a first for the continent. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain development at The Corporate Council on Africa’s 9th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business, attended by executives from leading U.S. and African firms and government representatives from several countries. This collaboration between Boeing and SAA is part of the companies’ broader efforts to support environmental sustainability for the airline’s operations and the commercial aviation industry overall, in addition to advancing South Africa’s social and economic development. “South African Airways is taking the lead in Africa on sustainable aviation fuels and, by setting a best practice example, can positively shape aviation biofuel efforts in the region,” said Ian Cruickshank, SAA head of group environmental affairs. “By working with Boeing’s sustainable aviation biofuel team, which has a history of successful partnerships to move lower-carbon biofuels closer to commercialization, we will apply the best global technology to meet the unique conditions of Southern Africa, diversify our energy sources and create new opportunities for the people of South Africa.” Boeing has collaborated extensively with airlines, research institutions, governments and other stakeholders to develop road maps for biofuel supply chains in several countries and regions, including the United States, China, Australia and Brazil. The aerospace company’s plan to work with SAA is the first such project in Africa. “Sustainable aviation biofuel will play a central role in reducing commercial aviation’s carbon emissions over the long term, and we see tremendous potential for these fuels in Africa,” said Julie Felgar, managing director of environmental strategy and integration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Boeing and South African Airways are committed to investigating feedstocks and pathways that comply with strict sustainability guidelines and can have a positive impact on South Africa’s development.” Flight tests show that biofuel, which is derived from organic sources such as plants or algae, performs as well as or better than petroleum-based jet fuel. When produced in sustainable ways, biofuel contributes far less to global climate change than traditional fuels because carbon dioxide is pulled out of the atmosphere by a growing plant-based feedstock. Boeing and SAA believe that new developments in technology will enable the conversion of biomass into jet fuel in a more sustainable manner without competing with other sectors for food and water resources. The World Wildlife Fund-South Africa will monitor and ensure compliance to sustainability principles that would ensure that fuel is sustainable and would lead to genuine carbon reductions. Aviation biofuel refined to required standards has been approved for a blend of up to 50 percent with traditional jet fuel. Globally, more than 1,500 passenger flights using biofuel have been flown since the fuel was approved. Continue reading
Hawaii BioEnergy Would Like To Biofuel Hawaiian Airlines Flights
Duane Shimogawa Reporter- Pacific Business News Hawaii BioEnergy, which has a signed agreement with Alaska Airlines to provide the Seattle-based carrier with locally-grown biofuel, is “intending to” approach Hawaiian Airlines about providing the state’s flagship carrier with biofuel as well, Joel Matsunaga , executive vice president and chief operating officer for Hawaii BioEnergy told PBN. “Our thing is liquid fuels [and] Hawaii needs liquid fuels at some point, [so] we are definitely a jet [fuel] market [and] the shipping industry does [too]. It’s critical to have it sourced locally,” he said. Hawaiian Airlines spokeswoman Ann Botticelli told PBN via email that the airline has not yet been approached by Hawaii BioEnergy, but it affirms that it is always interested in hearing about ways to increase its efficiency. Meantime, Hawaii BioEnergy, a consortium of three of the state’s largest landowners and three venture capital firms — including Kamehameha Schools , Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. (NYSE: MLP), Grove Farm, Khosla Ventures, Finistere Ventures LLC and Ulupono Initiative — said previously that it plans to begin production of its biofuel product within five years of regulatory approval. Alaska Airlines is expected to start procuring jet fuel for its Hawaii flights as soon as fall 2018. The feedstock utilized for the biofuel will be woody biomass-based, Hawaii BioEnergy said. “The ability to service the market depends on land availability,” Matsunaga said. “The more we get the better.” He pointed out that the company’s best prospects are on Kauai and the Big Island, with Oahu suffering from availability issues as well as lots of competing uses. “Maui is not dissimilar to Oahu,” Matsunaga said. “There [are] still a lot of competing uses for land [there].” Last month, Hawaii BioEnergy said it is getting $5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for a Kauai-based biofuels energy project that will produce algae oil in a project that aims to demonstrate pre-processing technologies that reduce energy use, among other things. About two years ago, Hawaiian Electric Co. signed a contract with Hawaii BioEnergy to supply 10 million gallons of Kauai-grown biofuel annually to power its Kahe Generating Station in Leeward Oahu. Matsunaga said that the company is still waiting for the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to approve the 20-year contract with HECO. Continue reading
Alaska Airlines To Buy Sustainable Biojet From Hawaii BioEnergy
By Alaska Airlines | July 29, 2013 Photo: Alaska Airlines. Alaska Airlines and Hawai`i BioEnergy LLC announced they have signed an agreement for the carrier to purchase sustainable biofuel for its aircraft. Founded in 2006, Hawai`i BioEnergy is a consortium of three of Hawaii’s largest landowners and three venture capital companies who plan to use locally grown feedstocks to produce biofuels. Alaska Airlines is Hawai`i BioEnergy’s second customer, and the first airline to sign a contract. Hawaiian Electric Co. previously announced it had agreed to purchase 10 million gallons of fuel a year from Hawai`i BioEnergy for power generation to the state, pending approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Hawai`i BioEnergy will ramp up production of the sustainable fuels within five years of regulatory approval, allowing Alaska Airlines to begin procuring sustainable jet fuel for its Hawaii flights possibly as soon as fall 2018. “We are pleased to be partnering with Hawai`i BioEnergy to encourage the production and commercial distribution of sustainable fuels,” said Keith Loveless, Alaska Air Group’s executive vice president and general counsel. “Beyond the environmental advantages, it improves the fuel supply integrity in the state of Hawaii, which will allow for the further growth of our airline operations throughout the Islands.” “Alaska Airlines shares our goals of environmental responsibility and our commitment to sustainable, local energy production,” said Joel Matsunaga, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hawai`i BioEnergy. “The development and commercialization of local, renewable energy is of critical importance to Hawaii, given the state imports 95 percent of its energy needs. Use of locally grown feedstocks for biofuel production will improve Hawaii’s energy sustainability and security while creating jobs in our communities.” The feedstock for the biofuel is anticipated to be woody biomass-based and will be consistent with the sustainability criteria established by the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels, an international multistakeholder initiative concerned with ensuring the sustainability of biomass production and processing. Alaska Airlines has reduced its carbon footprint intensity by 30 percent (measured by revenue passenger miles) since 2004. In 2011, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air were the first domestic airlines to fly multiple passenger flights powered by a biofuel blend. Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, together with its partner regional airlines, serves 95 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers” in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. Hawai`i BioEnergy LLC is a consortium established by three of Hawaii’s largest landowners: Kamehameha Schools, Grove Farm Company Inc., and Maui Land & Pineapple Inc., along with venture capital partnerships including Vinod Khosla, Ulupono Initiative and Finistere Ventures. HBE’s mission is to contribute to a sustainable energy future for the state of Hawai`i through the production of biobased liquid fuels, power and other valuable coproducts from locally grown feedstocks. Continue reading
