Can non-fossil fuel meet future requirements of the transportation industry? Several Indian experts cite the example of how major airlines including British Airways, Qantas and SAS have turned to municipal solid waste (MSW) to produce airline turbine fuel through a process of plasma gasification (PG).
British Airways has tied up Solena Fuels to start production of BioJetFuel by 2015. The facility to convert MSW into airline fuel is coming up in east London.
A climate change conclave highlighting new technologies to herald a low carbon economy saw Prem Shankar Jha, member of the World Commission on Environment and Development, highlighted how “India has the capacity to replace its transport fuel requirement if it invests extensively in its abundant biomass produce,” he added.
Mr Jha also made a push for the development of transportation fuel by using “black liquor” which is also a process of gasification developed through the fractionation of sugar cane.
“Black liquor gives 50 per cent more heat and can also be used to produce electricity expecially since India has such a large sugar cane industry,” Mr Jha explained.
He cited the example of Dr Suresh P. Babu at the Institute of Gas Technology in Chicago who has already developed a biomass gasification technology that converts biomass into biofuel.
“Coal derived methanol (DME) has been found to be a superior substitute to diesel and the Volvo company has tested it in its 60 ton trucks with success. Not only did this help increase the life of engines but carbon emissions came down by 96 per cent,” he added.
Fossil fuels emanating from the transportation sector account for 26 per cent of greenhouse gases worldwide.
Mr Jha admitted to meeting the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chief minister Shiela Dixit to explain these new technologies to them.
“The Prime Minister who heads the Council on Climate is also keen to give biofuels a push.”
Aviation expert Kapil Kaul however believes that India remains a long way away from biofuels being used extensively in the aviation industry. “We are still at the early stages of development. At present our focus is on ensuring our airports remain green and our energy consumption levels remain low.’