Lufthansa is set to trial biokerosene jet fuel made from alcohol after signing an agreement with Total-backed US biofuel producer Gevo.

 

The German carrier was the first in the world to use biofuels on commercial flights when it used a 50:50 blend of standard kerosene and biofuel from plant oils and animal fats to power one engine of planes on the daily service between Frankfurt and Hamburg. But the company ended the trial after just six months complaining it could not find sufficient supplies.

 

Lufthansa said this week it will team up with Gevo to research the potential of the alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel to mix with kerosene in a project backed by the European Commission.

 

The process involves fermenting plant waste to form isobutanol, which is then dehydrated and converted into kerosene using standard refinery processes. Lufthansa said the technology is as versatile as the already approved Fischer-Tropsch process but potentially at a lower cost. It aims to obtain approval for the ATJ fuel this year.

 

Airlines have been looking to cut carbon emissions and fuel spend by experimenting with alternative fuels, using feedstocks such as waste, algae, and industrial gases. Last week, BA confirmed plans for a facility in Essex to produce 120,000 tonnes of fuel from landfill.

 

At the moment, producing bio-jet fuel remains up to eight times as expensive as standard jet fuel. However, the technology is seen as a key part of limiting the growth of aviation emissions, which stand at around two per cent of the global total but are expected to make up a much larger share as global trade increases and other sectors decarbonise.

 

Patrick Gruber, Gevo's chief executive officer, said that by working with biofuels companies, airlines could help bring down the costs of green jet fuel.