Jet Biofuel. Production of energy-related crops for commercial aircraft

Abstract

The largest aircraft making companies, among them Boeing and Airbus, and International Air Transport Association (IATA), decided to take double role: to contribute on greenhouse gas emissions effect decrease and to ensure economic fuel availability. In order to add to jet fuel an increasing mixture of biofuel, a plan was developed. In Mexico this plan was set under “Flight Plan Towards Sustainable Biofuels” agenda, convoked by ASA between June 2010 and March 2011. When compared to jet fuel, jet biofuel must reduce greenhouse gas emission in more than 50% during its life cycle. It is also expected that when time elapses, thanks to technology, jet biofuel cost will be cut down, while petroleum will rise due its scarcity (Herrera and Morgan, 2010; García, 2010). In this way, at global level these companies had established that for year 2015 it must add 1% of jet biofuel to jet fuel, for 2017; 10%, for 2020; 15%, and so on up to 50% as minimum to replace source of aircraft fuel for year 2050. Mexico shares 2% of aircraft fuel sales at worldwide level. This means a starting 40 millions liters demand of jet biofuel for year 2015 and around 700 millions litters for year 2020. The body in charge of promoting worldwide aircraft biofuel (Roundtable For Sustainable Biofuels - RSB, headquartered in École Politechnique Federale from Lausanne) established 12 principles to fulfill in order to be accepted as jet biofuel oils supplier. These are related to ecological sustainability and social equity. The conditions Mexico can offer to face this first real biofuels demand as well as their likely effects are analyzed in the agenda.