KLM flying Amsterdam to Rio with biojet blend
19 June 2012
KLM is operating the longest biofuel flight undertaken yet as flight KL705 departs from Amsterdam with a Boeing 777-200 and flies to the Rio+20 sustainable development conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (about 9,500 km or 5,900 miles). The aircraft is partly flying on sustainable fuel made from used cooking oil, supplied by SkyNRG, the company KLM founded in 2009 with North Sea Group and Spring Associates.
SkyNRG is now a world market leader for sustainable kerosene, supplying more than 15 carriers worldwide. The company has developed a one-stop shop for airlines, airports, military and other kerosene end-users integrating the complete supply chain for sustainable jet fuels. Its supply chain covers the following elements:
Careful selection of sustainable feedstock;
Partnerships with the best refiners in every geographical area;
Logistics to any airport in the world via logistical partners;
Quality assurance;
Into-plane fuel service;
Full product liability insurance; and
Funding assistance (e.g., identifying co-funding opportunities, unlocking government incentives).
KLM is open to using different kinds of raw materials for the end product, as long as they meet a range of sustainability criteria, including a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, and minimal negative impact on biodiversity and food supply. All biofuels used by KLM meet the same technical specifications as traditional kerosene.
ENOUGH with all this BS about some boat, car, train or plane using some synth-fuel for some trip.
Wow.
The industry and DOD have complex, sophisticated test cycles to demonstrate the lubricity, compatability with metals and elastomers, octane, cetane, vapor pressure, pour point, coking etc . . .
Of course the crap will burn.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 19 June 2012 at 11:05 PM
More to the point, the very limited supply of the raw materials for these fuels (used cooking oil!) and the high cost (note item 7 above) restricts their use to publicity stunts like this one.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 20 June 2012 at 07:30 AM