Earlier this week, United Airlines launched their first biofuel powered flight. Operated by its subsidiary Continental Airlines, the flight left Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport Monday morning and arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Scientists have just unveiled a study that suggests panda excrement contains bacteria that can potently break down plant material to produce biofuels not from corn and sugarcane but from grass, wood chips, crop wastes and other biomass outside of the food chain.
Global production of biofuels increased 17 percent in 2010 to reach an all-time high of 105 billion liters, up from 90 billion liters in 2009.
Biofuels may be powering airplanes sooner than you think. ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, has given preliminary approval for airlines to use a renewable jet fuel blend that includes algae and other plants. The new ASTM annex to the alternative jet fuel specification D7566 (Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine [...]
Royal Dutch Shell, the largest oil company in Europe, and Cosan Limited, the largest sugar and ethanol processor in Brazil, have formally launched a multi-billion dollar joint venture that will become the largest producer of ethanol made from sugar cane. The joint venture, called Raizen, will operate in Brazil. Cosan has invested $3.3 billion and [...]
