The effort will reportedly focus on developing and testing renewable energy technology to convert bio-feedstocks to commercial aviation fuels, with specific focus on second-generation feedstocks such as algae, which do not compete with food or water resources.
UOP, a developer of refining technology, has reportedly developed a process technology to convert natural oils and greases to military-grade jet fuel, as part of a project funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Honeywell noted that the process technology produces clean jet fuel that is a drop-in replacement for traditional kerosene-based jet fuel and meets all the critical performance specifications for flight. This technology is expected to be viable for use in the production of jet fuel for commercial jets.
Jennifer Holmgren, director of the renewable energy and chemicals business for UOP, said: Biofuels hold tremendous potential to meet growing fuel demand while reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This partnership brings together a range of aviation and process technology expertise to study and verify the best path toward sustainable use of biofuels in aviation.
