Rolls-Royce and BA to test for greener fuel

Mark Milner, industrial editor
The Guardian,
Friday July 11, 2008

Rolls-Royce and British Airways are teaming up to conduct an in-depth study of using alternative fuels in the aviation industry.
The initiative comes as the industry faces escalating fuel costs and growing pressure to curb emission levels highlighted by caps on aircraft emissions through the European Union's emissions trading scheme.
The companies are asking alternative fuel providers to submit samples for testing and will then draw up a shortlist of up to four to test on a Rolls-Royce RB211 engine from a BA Boeing 747.
Suppliers who reach the short list will have to provide 60,000 litres of fuel and will have to demonstrate what Rolls-Royce described as their fuels' "sustainability, suitability and industrial capacity".
"It is critical that the fuel cannot only do the job required of it, but can also offer a CO2 benefit and be produced without a detrimental impact to food, land or water," Rolls-Royce director of research and technology, Ric Parker, said. "There must also be clear evidence of the potential for mass production and global distribution of an alternative fuel to support the world's aviation industry."
A number of alternative fuels are already being tested by being used to power individual engines on aircraft. But Rolls-Royce argues that the use of an indoor test bed will allow more accurate data to be gathered than would be possible from actual flight data.
Kerosene is the current fuel of choice. It is widely available and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but the industry is seeking alternatives that will cut carbon emissions.
Jonathon Counsell, head of environment at BA, said: "Should the tests we are undertaking with Rolls-Royce be successful, the potential for bringing us closer to a greener fuel alternative that will help the aviation industry reduce its carbon footprint is enormous."