Approval of New Sustainable Aviation Biofuel
Boeing comments on newly approved aviation biofuel, farnesane
ASTM International, the fuel standards organization, today announced that farnesane, which is made from plant sugars, can be blended up to 10 percent with conventional petroleum jet fuel (Jet A/A1).
The newly approved biofuel is made with a process called “direct fermentation of sugar” using an advanced biotechnology developed by California-based Amyris, Inc. and with support from TOTAL, S.A., the French oil company. Farnesane is the third type of biofuel approved for use by airlines and other stakeholders in the commercial aviation industry.
“Boeing collaborates with partners around the world to develop sustainable aviation biofuel to reduce our industry’s carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuel,” said Julie Felgar, Boeing Commercial Airplanes managing director of environmental strategy. “Boeing worked closely with Amyris and Total to support approval of this new biofuel pathway and are delighted it can now be used for commercial flights.”
When produced sustainably, aviation biofuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to petroleum Jet A/A1 through its life cycle. Boeing’s goal is that by 2016, sustainable biofuel will address 1 percent of global jet fuel demand, equivalent to 600 million gallons (2,271.25 billion liters) of jet fuel.
To learn more about Boeing's leadership in sustainable aviation biofuel, see Boeing's 2014 Environment Report.
