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Alternative fuels

CO2 reduction 

Ambitious goals

Alternative fuel research is a core tenet of Airbus’ initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of air transport. The company believes that alternative fuels are a must for sustainable aviation growth and offer advantages over standard oil-derived jet fuel in terms of supply, diversity and eco-efficiency.
 
Aviation contributes to approximately two per cent of all man-made CO2 emissions. During the past 40 years, the industry has improved its fuel efficiency and reduced its related CO2 emissions by around 70 per cent. The air transport sector as a whole has voluntarily committed to meeting ambitious environmental targets, including carbon neutral growth by 2020 and a 50 per cent net reduction of CO2 emissions in 2050, compared to 2005 figures.

Alternative fuel sources

Airbus is pioneering the introduction of sustainable bio fuels, which will make a significant impact on CO2 emissions.
Airbus is pioneering the introduction of sustainable bio fuels, which will make a significant impact on CO2 emissions.

Airbus is pioneering the introduction of sustainable biofuels, which will make a major impact on CO2 emissions from aviation. Biofuels’ emissions are no less than fossil fuels’, but their plant supply sources fix CO2 as they grow – offsetting what will be emitted when they are burned. 

Biofuels are an attractive alternative to standard kerosene because it requires neither aircraft nor engine modifications, and can be mixed with existing kerosene and used with the current-generation infrastructure. 

There are at least three types of “drop-in” alternative fuel sources that can meet the performance of non-renewable (fossil) jet fuels, including biomass treated with the Fischer-Tropsch process; hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA); and hydrotreated cellulosic fibre (HCF).

Airbus' vision

Research and test flights have shown that synthetic biofuels can replace fossil fuels on today’s aircraft without the need for modification. Airbus estimates that sustainable biofuels could supply some 30 per cent of commercial aviation as early as 2030.

The biggest challenge is producing sustainable supplies in sufficient quantity, in order to provide necessary quantities of fuel at a competitive cost. Airbus directs its research on fuels from sustainable plants or biomass supplies that do not impact socially or compete with food, land and water resources.

The company continuously works with industry partners to fully explore alternative fuels’ potential value to the aviation industry. These efforts include supporting airlines to implement projects; providing decision-makers with relevant biofuel data; developing research programmes in collaboration with universities; and supporting the regulatory approval process for new biofuels.

The European initiative

In cooperation with the European Commission, leading airlines and biofuel producers, Airbus has helped launch an ambitious industry-wide initiative to help speed up the commercialization of aviation biofuels in Europe. 

Announced in June 2011, this pan-sector effort – which has been labeled “Biofuel Flightpath” – establishes clear milestones which target an annual production of two million tonnes of sustainably produced biofuel for aviation by 2020.  The biofuel will be produced in Europe from European-sourced supplies

This plan also highlights and supports the construction of industrial “first of a kind” advanced biofuel production plants.

Airbus achievements: a global scope

The A380’s milestone 2008 flight using a liquid fuel processed from gas departed Filton in the United Kingdom and was completed three hours later with a landing at the Airbus headquarters.
The A380’s milestone 2008 flight using a liquid fuel processed from gas departed Filton in the United Kingdom and was completed three hours later with a landing at the Airbus headquarters.

In collaboration with Shell International Petroleum and Rolls-Royce, Airbus marked a step towards the development of alternative fuel solutions with an A380 flight test in 2008, which utilised gas-to-liquid (GTL) kerosene. Synthesised through the Fischer-Tropsch process, its product is cleaner than the oil-derived jet fuel used with current commercial aircraft – resulting in lower sulphur emissions. The second commercial flight using GTL fuel was performed in April 2010 by a United Airlines A319. 

To carry out engineering, economic analysis and to move into the development of sustainable biofuels, Qatar Airways – in collaboration with Airbus – launched in 2010 the biofuel value chain to commercialise biofuels. Later that year, Airbus teamed up with Brazil’s TAM Airlines and conducted the first biofuel flight in Latin America. This experimental flight is part of a wider project to help develop a production chain for renewable biofuel, with the purpose of creating a Brazilian platform for sustainable aviation bio-kerosene. 

German carrier Lufthansa marked a significant step towards sustainable aviation with launch of the world’s first scheduled passenger biofuel flights. These daily services between Frankfurt and Hamburg, which began in July 2011, were performed by an A321 jetliner using a 50 per cent Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFTA) biofuel blend. The flights continued for a six-month period as part of the “Burn Fair” research and technology project to study the long term impact of sustainable biofuels on aircraft performance. Airbus’ role was to provide technical assistance and monitor the fuel properties. 

The camelina plant was selected for the Romanian-based bio-fuel project due to its energy potential, rotational crop qualities and low water requirements.
The camelina plant was selected for the Romanian-based bio-fuel project due to its energy potential, rotational crop qualities and low water requirements.

In March 2011, it also was announced that Airbus and TAROM Romanian Air Transport – together with a consortium of key stakeholders – have established one of Europe’s first projects for a sustainable bio-kerosene jet-fuel processing and production capability. This Romanian-based project aims to provide a bio-fuel made from the camelina plant as a renewable, sustainable substitute to fossil-based jet fuel. Airbus is acting as the catalyst in getting the Romanian value chain for a local bio-jet fuel solution up and running.

During the same month, Airbus signed an agreement which promotes and backs initiatives to develop a complete Spanish “value chain” for sustainable and renewable aviation bio-fuel for commercial use. Joining Airbus as signatories were the government of Spain and Iberia Airlines, with other key members expected to join at later dates. Airbus’ role will centre on providing expertise and management of the feasibility, life cycle and sustainability analysis.

In April 2011, Airbus and Interjet successfully conducted the first Jatropha-based bio-fuel flight in Mexico as part of an ongoing effort to accelerate the country’s commercialisation of alternative fuels for aviation use. This project utilised an A320 jetliner, which flew from Mexico City to the southern state of Chiapas with one of its engines powered by 30-per cent bio-fuel.

Operations CO2 reduction 

Did you know?

"In the last 40 years, the aviation industry has cut fuel burn and CO2 emissions by70%, NOx emissions by 90% and noise by 75%."