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Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Gina Learmonth edited this page 2025-01-12 10:18:30 +00:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring purchasers with their smooth silhouettes, plush cabins - and progressively, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel forms of aviation fuel considered less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced ecological pressure on air travel and devoted to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to suppress emissions could make service jets more appealing to environmentally conscious buyers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less contaminating private jets could also spare the rich and popular the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current private jet journey to southern France.

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

The latest waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used 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 expected to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of overall yearly carbon emissions worldwide, but can release, typically, up to 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 use of personal jets to ensure his household's security, and has actually stated that on the uncommon occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his travel plan have actually added fresh challenges for an industry currently aiming to its contribution to cutting corporate expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming including the usage of private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has actually provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain skeptical that biojetfuels, normally mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable influence on public perceptions about high-end travel.

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

Demand from organization jet operators for renewable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow said.

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

Corporate charter companies and consultants are likewise seeing more interest from clients who wish to buy carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a function in a corporate jet usage study his business recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that cost, expense per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) driver. But I believe people are ending up being more conscious of the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)