June 19, 2008
Soaring fuel costs are leading the aviation industry to get more serious about developing alternative jet fuels. Three international carriers today (Thurs.) joined a Seattle-based group that’s trying to commercialize algae-based fuel. Boeing Company manager Bill Glover says the involvement of Continental Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Air New Zealand signals that oil-from-algae should be taken seriously.
Glover: “It underscores the belief that this can be made real. It multiplies the likelihood that we’re going to get good results as quickly as possible and be able to ease the situation from an environmental standpoint and from an economic standpoint.”
Boeing leads a newly formed trade group on energy from algae. Several technology start-ups and universities in the region are working on processes to extract biofuel from vats of algae. Air New Zealand is planning a test flight using an algae fuel mix as early as next year.
Tom Banse reports.