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Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Huey Shippee edited this page 2025-01-12 07:55:52 +01:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing purchasers with their sleek shapes, plush cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to display novel types of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the climate, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less attractive meat waste.

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

Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make business jets more attractive to ecologically conscious buyers - especially corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.

The availability of less polluting personal 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 screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

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

"All of our product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on display are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall yearly carbon emissions internationally, but can emit, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has actually protected his periodic usage of private jets to ensure his household's safety, and has actually stated that on the uncommon events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his schedule have actually added fresh difficulties for an currently aiming to validate its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving making use of private jets are unfortunate when you consider that our industry has actually delivered fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out airplanes - is unlikely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

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

"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from company jet operators for sustainable 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 broaden production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and experts 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 research study his business just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

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