Virgin Atlantic Tries Flying On Coconut Oil

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 26th 2008 at 9:02AM

Last Sunday, Boeing, Virgin Atlantic and GE Aviation partnered up for the first commercial aviation flight using a sustainable fuel from biomass, mixed with traditional kerosene-based jet fuel. The Virgin Atlantic 747-400 flew using a biofuel blend of babassu oil and coconut oil provided by Seattle-based Imperium Renewables. The babassu nuts and coconuts used in the fuel were harvested from existing, mature plantations and no modifications were made to either the aircraft or its engines. Earlier this year an Airbus 380 flew using a synthetic liquid fuel processed from natural gas. Boeing is planning to use findings from this flight toward helping it plan another biofuel flight later this year with Air New Zealand.

Not everyone sees this first flight as a breakthrough. Wired covers some of the backlash; some environmentalists have called the flight a publicity stunt saying that Virgin is not interested in doing anything substantial toward reducing the airline industry's carbon footprint. Also, there is a growing controversy regarding the environmental benefits of biofuels since using these crops for fuel will drive up food costs and contribute to deforestation. Luckily Branson's got another trick up his sleeve. They are looking at algae as the next biofuel.

Tags: biofuel, boeing, green, virgin atlantic, VirginAtlantic

Filed under: Wings, Green

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tony Kiene Feb 26th 2008 11:22AM

Biomass really is the answer to a renewable sustainable fuel source. Contrary to what most think the only biomass fuel that would really drive up food cost would be ethanol derived from corn which is a food staple in the 3rd world. The use of algae as the fuel stock has been explored and there are several strains that carry a significant amount of cetane. I have read that a 1,000 hectacre plot growing algae could provide 100% of the US' energy needs at the current levels.
Of course, petroleum companies fight this kind of common sense answer tooth and nail because there would be a shift in the ownership of fuel production.

Tony Kiene Feb 26th 2008 11:24AM

Hussein Feb 27th 2008 12:06PM

Wow, very cool that Virgin is flying on renewable fuel. I have read that airplane emissions account for 30% of a country's carbon emissions. Making part renewable is a big deal. Check out the truth at barackobamaisyournewnanny.com