Australian airline Qantas is evaluating the costs and efficiencies of a trash-burning biofuel plant to be built in Sydney to stave off carbon emissions by 1.5 percent a year, according to The Australian.
The airline is working with US fuel supplier Solena to investigate the construction of a commercial waste biofuel plant, fed by food scraps, grass and tree cuttings, and agricultural and industrial waste as a feedstock for the fuel. Solena estimates that its biofuel process offers lifecycle greenhouse gas savings of up to 95 percent over fossil-fuel derived kerosene. Projected CO2 savings are 550,000 tons per year, which includes 250,000 tons from a reduction in waste sent to landfills, the article said.
It is moving to cut its carbon emissions and meet airline industry standards of an annual 1.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency through 2020, or the UN’s 2 percent improvement standard, The Australian reported.
The Guardian reported that the fuel plant venture, expected to be announced this month, costs about $312 million to build, and would create about 1,200 jobs. A similar project with British Airways and Solena was signed for in February 2010.
Qantas is one of several leading airline carriers who have signed the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group pledge to reduce the airline industry’s environmental impact.