Eco Factor: Cranfield University researchers to investigate ways of harvesting algae commercially for jet fuel.
Green is the future of aviation industry and we have already seen a handful of companies experimenting with different eco-friendly fuels. This time around, it is British Airways and Airbus, who are supporting a project at the UK’s Cranfield University to investigate ways of harvesting algae for jet fuel in commercial quantities. The project that started soon after the triennial conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization is not only looking for ways commercial production of algae, but also growing them close to airports to prevent the environmental cost of distributing fuel around the globe.
Researchers at Cranfield claim that algae could be produced commercially in four years’ time. Algae are said to be a better option than other biofuels because they do not compete with land for food production. This is not the first time that British Airways has taken a green initiative, earlier this year the aviation giant announced the establishment of a facility in east London to convert 500,000 tonnes of waste a year into 16 million gallons of jet fuel.
Via: CNN
