Content 01 What are alternative Fuels?

02 Reason to search for Alternative Fuels 03 Process for Transformation 04 Benefits in Bio-Fuel 05 Biofuels for aviation testing 06 Airbus achievements * all information was taken from FAST #46 http://www.airbus.com/support/publications/

What are alternative fuels?

Alternative fuels are Bio-fuels which giving a slightly higher energy content (reducing fuel burn), flash point (temperature at which fuel vapours will ignite critical for safety during ground handling/refuelling) and a lower freezing point (potentially increasing the effective operational envelope of the aircraft). Bio-fuels are a range of fuels which are derived from renewable biomass. The term covers solid bio mass, liquid fuels and bio-gases. Basically, there are at least three types of drop-in alternative fuels that meet the performance of non-renewable (fossil) jet fuels. These are the combination of bio-fuels and some fossil fuels that produce synthetic fuels: 1) The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process gives a synthetic fuel, made from natural gas (Gas To Liquid - GTL), coal (Coal To Liquid - CTL) and biomass (Biomass To Liquid - BTL) such as farm waste or woodchip/forestry waste. This process was developed in the 1920s. It is a set of chemical reactions that convert a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. 2) Hydrogenated Biomass Oils(HBO) fuels are made using the animal fats, oils from plants like camelina, jatropha and salicornia, or oils from algae. This process de-oxygenates the biomass oils or fats to produce paraffins which can then be reformed by a hydro-treatment to make aviation kerosene. 3) Hydrotreated Cellulosic Fibre(HCF) fuels are made using cellulosic biomass such as forestry and farm waste or switch grass, to name a few. This process converts the cellulosic material into a solution which is then fermented into alcohols and then reformed by a hydro-treatment to make aviation kerosene. Airbus has extensively studied the use of hydrogen and does not see this as a solution in the short-to-medium term, without major changes in the aircraft design, the support of infrastructures and techniques to industrialize its production.

Reason to search for Alternative Fuels

The most likely reason to source for alternative fuel is due to the depletion of petroleum fossil fuels, along with the believed impact of CO2 on the climate. Aviation currently represents approximately 12% of the world transport fuel consumption (or 7 to 8% of the global petroleum consumption). In addition to this, jet fuel price volatility remains a major cause of concern for the airlines, as fuel typically accounts for approximately 40% of their operating costs. Technically, conventional jet fuel or kerosene (also known as JET A1), has specific characteristics that are necessary and remarkably suitable for flight conditions. It has a good energy content, a low freezing point (below minus 40C) and it is stable and reliable. Alternative fuels for aviation must meet these characteristics.

Process for Transformation

Other alternative fuel possibilities have been analysed but are currently not seen to be a solution for the aviation, including alcohols which contain 35% lower energy content and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) with 10% lower energy content and a freezing point at -5C.

Benefits in Bio-Fuel

Plant matter absorbs CO2 as it grows. When it is converted into fuel and burnt, CO2 is released. The net result is that the CO2 absorbed and released can partially cancel each-other out, to achieve near-neutral emissions.

Challenges in using Alternative Fuel - SUSTAINABILITY The biggest challenge is producing sustainable feedstock in sufficient quantity, in order to provide the large quantities of fuel required. Airbus is focusing its research from sustainable plants or biomass feedstocks that do not compete with land, food, nor water resources. - RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY The development of bio-fuels requires an analysis and implementation that will depend on the governments' support through policy (prioritisation of energy types) and incentives. - INVESTMENT Investors finance the commercialisation of bio-fuels across the value chain (farmers, refiners, airports, transportation and distribution, including the most interested - the airlines). This is to say that a cross industry approach is essential. All these parties have to work hand in hand to reach this common goal. - PRICE Alternative fuels must be commercially viable and affordable, not only during the production phase but also for the end user.

Biofuels for aviation testing

Safety is the aviation industry's top priority. Given this and the specific requirements of any fuels used in aircraft, the process for testing potential new fuels is particularly rigorous. Through testing in laboratories, in equipment on the ground, and under the extreme operating conditions that the aviation industry requires, an exhaustive process determines those biofuels that are suitable for aviation. In the laboratory Researchers develop a biofuel that has similar properties to traditional jet fuel, Jet A-1. The aircraft and engine manufacturers and other systems suppliers then run compatibility tests. This is important because fuel is used for many purposes inside the aircraft and engine, including as a lubricant, cooling fluid and hydraulic fluid, as well as for combustion. On the ground Tests look at specific fuel consumption at several power settings from ground idle to take-off speed, which is then compared to performance with traditional Jet A-1. Tests are also completed on the amount of time it takes for the engine to start, how well the fuel stays ignited in the engine and how the fuel performs in acceleration and deceleration. Finally, an emissions test determines the gaseous emissions and smoke levels for the biofuels. In the air Once the lab and on-the-ground testing have been completed, the fuel is ready to be tested on aircraft under normal operating conditions. A number of airlines have provided aircraft for biofuel flight trials designed to: provide data to support fuel qualification and certification for use by the aviation industry; demonstrate that biofuels are safe and that they work; and stimulate research and development into biofuels. During a flight, pilots perform a number of ordinary and not-so-ordinary tests to ensure the fuel can withstand use under any operating condition.

Airbus achievements On February 1st, 2008, Airbus completed the worlds first ever flight by a commercial jet (A380) using synthetic liquid jet-fuel made from natural gas (GTL), similar to conventional jet fuel in terms of CO2 emissions but has virtually no sulphur and is better for local air quality. Thanks to these and later tests, 50% blends of GTL and BTL were officially authorized for passenger flights.

Qatar Airways flew the worlds first commercial service with GTL in October 2009 on an A340-600. The second commercial flight using GTL fuel was performed in April 2010 by United Airlines on an A319.