Aviation Biofuel: Technology-Ready, Needs Capex Infusion, RIN Reforms
by Marsha W. Johnston (Renewable Energy World) By all rights, many believe aviation biofuel producers should be attracting deep-pocketed investors ambitious enough to build the infrastructure necessary to meet a clearly burgeoning industrial-sized demand. At the Aviation Biofuels Development Conference, representatives from eight companies presented strong evidence of a sector that has proven various technologies and is beginning to address its feedstock and cost issues.
Opinion was divided over whether investors would begin returning to the sector after some were burned by losses from first-generation corn ethanol investments several years ago. But participants said reforms to the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) regime used to buy and trade it could bridge the gap to industrial scale, and others boasted their product and cost improvements industry’s favorable business opportunities.
…In July 2011, American Standards for Testing Materials (ASTM) approved the use of up to 50 percent renewable synthetic fuel components, referred to as hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), with the more conventional kerosene-type jet fuel used in most of today’s commercial aircraft. (ASTM) has also approved the use of Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) fuels and is expected to approve Alcohol to Jet with Aromatics (ATJ), by end of 2013. Since HRJ/HEFAwas approved, more than ten commercial airlines have carried flights using renewable jet fuel, according to the Carbon War Room. READ MORE
