Companies Expect To Perform A Demo Flight By 2012
Embraer, General Electric, and Amyris announced the signing,
today, of a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the technical
and sustainability aspects of Amyris’ No Compromise renewable
jet fuel. The companies hope the initiative will culminate in a
demo flight of an Embraer E-Jet using GE engines and belonging to
Azul Linhas Aéreas in early 2012.
This collaboration combines industry leadership in airframe and
engine manufacturing, a new and committed airline, and
next-generation jet fuel development and production. The goal is to
accelerate the introduction of a renewable jet fuel that could
significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and provide a
long-term sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived jet
fuel.
“Greening the skies is a rather complex subject and
requires broad industry expertise and commitment,” says
Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. “The
partnership with top-level players will certainly represent an
important step towards this endeavor.”
Amyris’ renewable jet fuel is a promising alternative to
the conventional petroleum-derived jet fuel. It is made from
existing sugar cane feedstock, and is positioned to bring supply
security, renewable content, price stability, and significant
reductions in GHG emissions to the jet fuel pool. “This is a
great innovating step by the airline industry in the fight
against
global warming,” says David Neeleman, Chairman of the
Brazilian airline Azul.
The new fuel has already undergone previous testing conducted by
the US Air Force Research Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute,
GE Aviation, and other industry participants. “GE is
committed to develop and produce the most fuel efficient and
environmentally friendly jet engines for the airlines,
worldwide,” says Chuck Nugent, General Manager of GE Aviation
Small Commercial Engines. “However, much additional work is
required in other areas, in order to achieve greener skies.
This partnership reinforces GE’s commitment.”
The Brazilian government, via Financiadora de Estudos e
Projetos – FINEP, is already contributing funding to
Amyris’ renewable jet fuel development program. Brazil has
the world’s largest crop of sugar cane and associated
expertise in ethanol production, which constitutes important
leverage for developing Amyris renewable jet fuel.
Amyris produces its renewable fuel using the emerging science of
synthetic biology. By altering the metabolic pathways of
microorganisms, such as yeast, Amyris is able to engineer
“living factories” that transform sugar into a range of
renewable products, including diesel fuel, jet fuel, and
performance chemicals. “This is a landmark project for air
travel,” said Amyris CEO John Melo. “It demonstrates
that a united industry can usher in an era of cleaner air travel,
while using sustainable resources.”
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