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

Samantha Baragwanath edited this page 2025-01-12 03:10:25 +08:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant industry show in Las Vegas luxury jets are luring buyers with their sleek shapes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to showcase unique forms of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that embracing sustainable fuel to curb emissions might make service jets more appealing to environmentally conscious buyers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The schedule of less polluting private jets might likewise spare the rich and famous the negative publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan over a recent private jet journey to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The newest waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 aircraft on display screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, however can emit, usually, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually protected his periodic use of private jets to ensure his household's security, and has actually stated that on the uncommon occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his travel plan have included fresh obstacles for an currently making every effort to validate its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including using personal jets are regrettable when you consider that our industry has provided fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the market make inroads with corporations and rich buyers. According to market information, billionaires just have a 19% service jet ownership rate.

But even an image transformation - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this airplane flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for going to airplanes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some analysts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, normally mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant impact on public understandings about high-end travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from service jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

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

Corporate charter companies and consultants are likewise seeing more interest from clients who wish to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a business jet utilization research study his company recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I believe that price, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are ending up being more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it affects the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)