After automobiles, the aviation industry is looking at biofuel for future needs. Accor-ding to experts, biofuel brings down carbon dioxide emissions by almost 50 per cent and gives 15 per cent more fuel efficiency than fossil fuel.
The International Air Transport Asso-ciation, which is participating in the ongoing India Aviation show, has emphasised the need to use biofuel in the aviation sector to protect the environment and fight global warming and climate change. The aviation industry contributes two per cent of the world’s man-made carbon dioxide emission, and can save up to 80 per cent on fuel costs if it utilises full potential of biofuel, according to IATA.
The IATA has also outlined steps to promote successful commercialisation of sustainable biofuel. “Alternative fuel, particularly sustainable biofuel, has been identified as one of the key elements in helping achieve the goal (to reduce CO2 emission). Biofuel derived from sustainable oil crops such as jatropha, camelina and algae or from wood and waste biomass can reduce overall carbon footprint by around 80 per cent over their full lifecycle,” says an IATA document on biofuel.
It says test flights by seven airlines with biofuel have been successful and proven that it can be mixed with jet fuel. The industry is now working on finalising technical certification so that biofuel can be used for passenger flights, experts said. British Airways has already taken steps to produce fuel from municipal solid waste, and if things go well, part of its fleet will fly on fuel from municipal sources in the next couple of years.