According to a recent report by the airline magazine Airport Business, Avinor is working in close collaboration with a number of airlines including SAS and Norwegian, and the Federation of Norwegian Aviation Industries (NHO Luftfart) to perform research on the use of biofuels in the aviation industry.
Avinor operates 46 airports in Norway, 12 in cooperation with the armed forces, and highlights that it takes a proactive environmental approach to its work. Two of its airports – Oslo and Trondheim – are Airport Carbon Accredited at the highest level – ‘Neutrality’, while Kristiansand has achieved the ‘Reduction’ level.
Avinor has announced that it is conduting a study into biofuel production as the latest step in its carbon reduction efforts. Jon Sjølander, Avinor’s Strategy Director, told Airport Business that the overarching goal of the study is to identify commercially viable biofuel production in Norway.
“We also aim to establish an estimated biofuel price, both based on Norwegian biomass and the prospects of imports of biomass,” he said. “We have initiated this study into biofuel production because we want to be a proactive and responsible partner for the aviation industry in Norway. Biofuels are one of the most promising areas in terms of reducing carbon emissions.”
“The potential to help airlines lower emissions is huge. This is ground-breaking and very challenging work. In technical terms, it is currently possible to mix 50% biofuel with jet fuel in jet engines. Challenges in the years ahead are especially related to access to sufficient amounts of not-too-expensive biomass, but technical issues and distribution are also challenging. Big scale bio jetfuel production has not yet materialised,” explained Sjølander.
While the study has only just kicked off, two key factors to ensuring commercial viability of bio-jetfuels have already been identified: guaranteeing a sufficient supply of biomass and acceptable pricing.
Airport Business highlights that one of the questions the study is attempting to answer is whether it is more cost-effective to start-up production rather than rely on imported biofuel. The study will also consider which type of biofuel has the most positive effect environmentally; Sjølander stressed that the production of biofuel must be sustainable, thus a thorough life-cycle analysis will also be conducted.
“We are looking into all types of biomass and production technologies. There seem to be two particularly relevant biomass sources – forestry residues and macro algae from the ocean,” he commented. “We will publish our report in January 2013. Once the study is complete, we think there will be at least two different approaches for the future. In 5-10 years, we hope to invoke interest from an industrial player and start large-scale production. I also expect we will end up with a more long-term view, where it’s possible to have some long-term research into even more promising areas.”
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