1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Genia Mckenney edited this page 2025-01-11 11:58:56 +03:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant industry show in Las Vegas luxury jets are tempting purchasers with their sleek shapes, plush cabins - and progressively, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to display novel types of aviation fuel deemed less damaging to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the clearly less glamorous meat waste.

operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and dedicated to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that adopting sustainable fuel to curb emissions might make business jets more appealing to environmentally mindful purchasers - specifically corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The accessibility of less polluting private jets might also spare the abundant and popular the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a recent private jet trip to southern France.

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

The most recent waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," stated Bryan Sherbacow, primary commercial 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 display are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel blends expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, but can emit, on average, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually safeguarded his periodic use of personal jets to ensure his household's safety, and has actually stated that on the unusual events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his schedule have included fresh difficulties for an industry already aiming to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has delivered fuel performance improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy purchasers. According to market data, billionaires only have a 19% business jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this airplane flies on sustainable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting airplanes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts stay doubtful that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant impact on public understandings about high-end travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said air travel analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from company jet operators for renewable fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

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

Corporate charter business and experts are likewise seeing more interest from consumers who wish to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

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

"At the end of the day, I believe that cost, expense per hour, variety, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are becoming more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)