Europe is seeking to launch a US-style initiative to develop its own regional roadmap for assessing and possibly adopting substitutes for kerosene-based fuels.
At a briefing last week Jeanne Yu, Boeing director of environmental performance, said the US airframer was assisting in the formation of a European version of the USA's Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, which it helped create with other industry stakeholders in an effort to coordinate efforts.
The European initiative will be led by Munich-based aeronautical think-tank Bauhaus Luftfahrt and will similarly invite interested stakeholders to participate.
Bauhaus Luftfahrt president Professor Dr Klaus Broichhausen, who has overseen industrial production at German engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines, will head the initiative.
He said the group will aim to form a general view on all alternative fuels to kerosene, including liquid hydrogen. "We shall be looking for the use and application of alternative fuels in Europe and to co-ordinate and collate all European activities in this field."
Boeing's Yu said the focus of Europe would probably be on biofuels produced from oil-based feedstock such as soy beans rather than synthetic fuels using fossil fuel derivatives such as gas and coal. This is due to European sensitivities over high life-cycle CO2 emissions involved in the production of synthetic fuels.
Boeing's support follows news that it will work with fuel business Virgin Fuels to commercialise a near-term "drop-in" replacement fuel in an effort to address industry concerns over CO2 emissions.
In an information paper presented by the US representative to the ICAO Committee On Aviation Environmental Protection earlier this year, the USA said it had determined that it was now "prudent" to explore the potential move toward alternative fuels.
"This should be done with caution and in a global fashion. We have launched an integrated approach to developing a national roadmap, in co-ordination with international stakeholders, for alternative aviation fuels."
The US Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration are working on a scoping study to address issues such as technical feasibility, environmental benefits, drivers for adoption of alternative fuels, and the possible promotion of alternative fuels.
Source: Flight International
