Advancing the Renewable Jet Fuel Industry
Most of the emphasis on renewable fuels in the media has been on fuel for vehicles. It seems like every day there is some update on ethanol or biodiesel production. The emphasis on these fuels comes from the higher consumption and the greater visibility of vehicle fuels as these fuels impact our everyday lives. However, addressing renewable fuels for the aviation industry is equally important, because the volumes of fuel required for air travel are significant and growing. Each year, US airlines consume nearly 14 billion gallons of jet fuel and the US Air Force consumes an additional 3 billion gallons of fuel per year.
There are many challenges that must be overcome before renewable jet fuel becomes mainstream. First and foremost, jet fuel must meet quality standards that are much higher than for ethanol or biodiesel. Jet fuel must have a very low freeze point, typically in the range of -40 to – 65°, otherwise, there is a danger of the fuel gelling at high altitudes. Jet fuel also has a higher flash point than gas or diesel for safer transport and handling. Jet fuel must have a high energy density by weight to minimize the amount of fuel an aircraft must carry.
Other challenges with renewable jet fuels include competition with ethanol and biodiesel for feedstock or land to grow feedstock. The food versus fuel debate notwithstanding, there will continue to be competition for limited feedstock for a long time and the larger demand for vehicle fuel will make it difficult for aviation fuel to compete. Perhaps someday algae will settle this issue once and for all, but in the meantime, we must continue to research alternative solutions.
Alternatives for powering vehicles include hydrogen, electric, ethanol, and possibly solar, but none of these options will work for aviation in the near future. The problems of using hydrogen fuel are many, from the low energy density to the difficulties of storing and concerns over safe handling. Electric and solar will not be viable for a long, long time for aviation because of their inefficiencies.
Despite the obstacles, or perhaps because of them, it is important that research into renewable aviation fuel continues moving forward. Certification of renewable aviation fuel is anticipated by 2013. We can’t afford to wait until the feedstock problem is resolved to begin marching toward certification. Several companies have been working on solutions. With more research dollars and greater collaboration, it is within the realm of possibility that more than one renewable fuel technology is certified within 5 years.
Any viable renewable jet fuel technology must meet current petroleum based jet fuel specifications and must be flexible enough to work with virtually any vegetable oil based feedstock. To be successful, the fuel produced should also be cost competitive with petroleum based fuel. The industry will need to invest significant resources into process optimizations that will lead to cheaper renewable fuel. Coupled with the process optimizations, there must be sufficient capital investment in new refining equipment in order to reach the economies of scale that are essential to lower costs.
The renewable fuel industry will be vulnerable for some time as it struggles to gain a foothold. With help from the government in the form of tax incentives, funding for research, and new emissions standards, this fledgling industry will quite literally – take off.
Author: John Mann, Florida
For More Visit www.JatrophaWorldCostaRica.com
Categories: Alternative Energy,Research,Investing
It was the exciting news that we would be able to fly with planted oil of jatropha Jet Fuel.
All the joint partners UOP+ Boeing + Roll Royce + PW + Air New Zealand + Continental airlines + japan Airline.
The result was successful much more than the expectation.
The Jatropha Jet fuel achieved and perform better than the required critical criteria of aviation fuel.
We are now going too far wihout looking back ward to find out where and how we could get all the feed stock of Crude jatropha Oil to commercilaize this successful experiment.
Si far there is no Jatropha plantation on the earth to generate significant qunatityof the feeds tock.
Terasol the listed supplier of the CJO for this great experiment should experience how difficult to get only some quantity of CJO to serve this experimental program.
Up to today knowledge and technologies of this energy crop. There are so many question marks whetehr this energy is commercial viable or not ?
The unknown and speculated of the productivity yield are completely different from any countries
The highly labor intensive in cultivation is the serious issue to rectify.
It is in a big doubt that the jatropha will be shelved or proceed.
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I've heard that Jatropha is being used in most part of India, Brazil and Philippines for making biodiesel fuel being use in cars and trains. If Jatropha can make it to Jets and commercial airlines, then that probably is one helpful way to green Aviation. I know many of us are still skeptical to this idea, but further studies and experiments will help us understand more on this.
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Any one can help to provide the proper information what biofuel from Jatropha (BDF or Jet Fuel or PPO) would generate the best value
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All of these fuels have their place. Pure plant oil (PPO) does not require refining and is ideal for running generators, tractors and vehicles equipped with a heat exchanger to reduce viscosity. BDF can be created using transesterfication, which is relatively inexpensive. Jet fuel is the most expensive to refine, but it also the highest value of the three. All three of these fuels have been produced from Jatropha and used successfully. The answer of which provides the best value depends on the resources you have available. Jet fuel from Jatropha though, while viable, still needs to be certified before it can be used commercially.
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I the Jatrpha oil economicaly viable.
According to the current market price of CO.It is far too high and definitely not economically viable formany usage.
The prodctivity ield of this energy crop is relatively very low and unsecured.
At what price level of the mineral crude oil will make the expensive Crude Jatropha Oil to be competitive at the replacement value ofm the mineral crude oil.
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This should guide you and answer the question. Value for Jatropha is location specific
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Firstly let me know your lrgal body who will operate the 60 million us dollars project in Thailand wity the full feasibilty study.
We are a group of buisnes conglomerate in Thailand and we did enter into the Jatropha activities alreday two years .
If your propose proect will be viable.
We are intetersting to look into details.
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