Biofuel flying will take off in three years, says Boeing

Biofuel-powered aircraft could be carrying millions of passengers around the world within three years, according to Boeing.

Darrin Morgan, an environmental expert at the US jet manufacturer, said the group was expecting official approval of biofuel use in the near future.

“The certification will happen much sooner than anybody thought,” he said. “We are thinking that within three to five years we are going to see approval for commercial use of biofuels – and possibly sooner.”

Morgan added that aircraft will not require modification to operate on a blend of biofuel and kerosene. However, harvesting enough plant material to meet the industry’s needs is the biggest barrier to mass use of biofuels, according to Boeing. Fuelling the world’s 13,000 commercial planes with soya bean-based fuel, for example, would require setting aside the equivalent of the entire land mass of Europe for soya bean production.

“No technology change is needed from an engine or airframe point of view,” Morgan said. “It’s about availability of the biomass.”

Guardian