1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Dina Paulsen edited this page 2025-01-12 00:32:07 +08:00


By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are enticing buyers with their streamlined silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and progressively, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase unique types of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the environment, from used cooking oil to the definitely less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and dedicated to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make business jets more appealing to ecologically conscious purchasers - particularly corporations facing questions over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less polluting personal jets might likewise spare the abundant and famous the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a current personal jet trip to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The most current waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary business officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

A few of the other 79 airplane on screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel mixes anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions worldwide, but can discharge, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has defended his occasional usage of personal jets to ensure his family's safety, and has actually said that on the uncommon occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say events such as the furore over his travel plan have actually included fresh challenges for a market currently making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting business costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving using private jets are unfortunate when you consider that our market has actually provided fuel efficiency enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will help the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% service jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this airplane flies on renewable fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for going to aircrafts - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some experts remain skeptical that biojetfuels, usually blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable effect on public understandings about luxury travel.

"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," said air travel Aboulafia.

Demand from business jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, might broaden production approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and specialists are also seeing more interest from consumers who wish to buy carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a business jet usage study his company recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that cost, expense per hour, variety, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) driver. But I believe people are becoming more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it affects the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)