SkyNRG Nordic, Powered by Statoil Aviation, Announces Bioport Karlstad

(SkyNRG) SkyNRG Nordic, the recently established cooperation between SkyNRG and Statoil Aviation, announces Karlstad as its first BioPort in Sweden.
Starting today (June 26, 2014), with the launch of BioPort Karlstad, SkyNRG Nordic will make the first volumes of sustainable jet fuel available in Sweden. With the establishment of a Bio Jet Fuel station, Karlstad Airport will have the first operational tank facility supplying sustainable jet fuel to all commercial flights departing from one single airport.
The set up of this facility is the first step to accelerate the adoption of sustainable jet fuel in the region and will create a platform for advancing and improving downstream biofuel blending and logistics.
In close cooperation with The Paper Province, SkyNRG Nordic is performing a feasibility study on establishing production of sustainable jet fuel, using available feedstocks from the local forestry industry.
SkyNRG Nordic and Karlstad are committed to make Karlstad airport one of the first airports in the world to operate on a permanent supply of sustainable jet fuel. This first endeavor of BioPort Karlstad once again shows that there are no technical barriers to the use of sustainable jet fuel.
“For many years, Sweden has been a driving force in the environmental sector and again we are taking a leading position in Europe. Sweden wants to be a role model for others and show that it is possible to make the aviation industry to be more environmentally friendly. We hope that through our efforts in Karlstad Airport we can inspire other airports and reach the European environmental objectives together!” Says Mr. Peter Landmark, CEO Karlstad Airport.
“We can now present the first Bio Jet Fuel tank facility in Europe, and perhaps in the world,” says Mr. Thorbjörn Larsson, Vice President at Statoil Fuel & Retail Aviation. “By joining forces, we were able to establish this small but very important step that is contributing to the development of biofuels and thus to a long term and sustainable future for aviation.”
“We are very happy that we have made our first concrete appearance in the market as SkyNRG Nordic, powered by Statoil Aviation. It’s clear that we think that the Karlstad region has great potential to become a major producer and user of sustainable jet fuel,” says Mr. Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO SkyNRG.
Thomas Roetger, Assistant Director Aviation Environment & Technology at IATA states; “IATA is excited by Karlstad Airport offering a regular biofuel supply to all departing aircrafts. This is a big step forward - so far biofuel has only been supplied to specific flights from individual airlines. The area around Karlstad Airport has a high potential for sustainable bio jet fuel production from locally available feedstock such as forestry residues and waste streams. However, the main remaining obstacle to bio jet fuel deployment is still its high price. IATA and SkyNRG are working together on innovative ways to attract funding to support this environmentally-friendly technology. This needs to be complemented by a favourable legislative framework.”
”We are happy for the opportunity to cooperate with SkyNRG and Statoil Aviation and that they have chosen to develop the first European Bio Jet Fuel station in our region. Here they will have access to both the competence and the raw materials needed to turn this into a success. I am confident that this enterprise will be valuable for our member companies, our region and all parties involved,” says Mrs. Maria Hollander, CEO The Paper Province. READ MORE and MORE (Biofuels Digest) and MORE (Karlstad Airport) and MORE (GreenAirOnline)

Excerpt from Biofuels Digest: ... Aviation biofuel is 3-4 times more expensive than normal aviation fuel and this extra cost is currently preventing airlines acting in a more eco-friendly way. To solve this problem, SkyNRG, a Dutch pioneer in aviation biofuel, has teamed up with Statoil Fuel & Retail to establish a climate compensation fund. The fund will initially cover the difference between the cost of normal aviation fuel and biofuel. In the longer term the fund will also support research. Businesses, the public sector and private individuals can make contributions.
Region Värmland (organisation for regional development and growth) and Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration) is also providing financial support for the strategic parts of the project. READ MORE