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

Latonya Stinson edited this page 2025-01-13 01:11:09 +08:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's greatest industry show in Las Vegas high-end jets are tempting buyers with their sleek shapes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to display novel forms of aviation fuel considered less damaging to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the clearly less glamorous meat waste.

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

Their hope is that embracing sustainable fuel to curb emissions could make company jets more attractive to environmentally mindful purchasers - particularly corporations facing questions over sustainability from shareholders or green project groups.

The schedule of less polluting personal jets might likewise spare the rich and famous the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current personal jet journey to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on 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 by-products of the food industry," stated Bryan Sherbacow, primary business officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on display are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel mixes anticipated to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall annual carbon emissions globally, however can produce, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the charter company Victor.

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

But planemakers say events such as the furore over his itinerary have added fresh obstacles for a market already aiming to validate its contribution to cutting corporate expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our industry has actually provided fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to industry data, billionaires only have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.

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

Environmentalists and some experts remain skeptical that biojetfuels, normally combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial effect on public perceptions about luxury travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from company jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, might broaden production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and experts are likewise seeing more interest from customers who want to purchase 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 usage research study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I think that rate, expense per hour, variety, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are becoming more mindful of the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)