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

drewolson3239 edited this page 2025-01-16 10:11:09 +00:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas luxury jets are tempting buyers with their smooth silhouettes, plush cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are eager to showcase unique forms of air travel fuel deemed less harmful to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions could make company jets more attractive to environmentally conscious purchasers - specifically corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

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

Five Gulfstream jets on display screen 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 market," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our product is inedible."

Some of the other 79 airplane on display screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other eco-friendly fuel blends expected to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall annual carbon emissions internationally, however can emit, typically, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

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

But planemakers state incidents such as the furore over his itinerary have included fresh obstacles for a market already striving to justify its contribution to cutting corporate expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving the use of personal jets are regrettable when you consider that our market has provided fuel performance improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for checking out airplanes - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some analysts stay doubtful that biojetfuels, normally combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant influence on about high-end travel.

"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," stated air travel expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from service 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, could broaden production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and experts are likewise seeing more interest from consumers who want to buy 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 company just recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, cost per hour, variety, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I believe people are becoming more mindful of the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)