Lufthansa to test biofuel on commercial flights

On Monday Lufthansa announced the start of a new experiment in sustainable technology. Together with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the German airline will begin “burnFAIR”—a project dedicated to testing biofuel starting in April 2011.

In April German airline Lufthansa will begin a six-month test period of biofuel on its planes. Photo (cc) flickr user caribb

The German government is contributing 5 million euros toward “FAIR” (Future Aircraft Research) projects that will be looking at issues such as biofuel compatibility, new engine and aircraft concepts, and fuel alternatives like natural gas (LNG).  Of the 5 million budgeted for “FAIR” projects, 2.5 million euros are earmarked for Lufthansa’s “fairBURN” initiative.

In April Lufthansa will begin the six-month biofuel trial period on flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg.  The Airbus A321 plane intended for the trial will use a 50-50 mix of biofuel and kerosene in order to collect data on the long-term effect of biofuel on engine life.  During the six month trail, Lufthansa will emit 1,500 tons less CO2 than it would without the use of biofuel.

"Lufthansa will be the world’s first airline to utilize biofuel in flight operations within the framework of a long-term trial. This is a further consistent step in a proven sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for many years successfully pursued and implemented," said Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

The trial will involve significant preparations, and Lufthansa has already begun acquiring biofuel and planning logistics.  Though DLR is providing a significant amount of funding, Lufthansa has estimated that the total test run will cost 6.6 million Euros.

"We know that biofuel is an issue we must address carefully. We can see the opportunities this fuel offers and give serious attention to the debate on the requisite raw materials. But we first want to acquire experience in daily practice in the use of biofuels. We are doing pioneering work in that no other airline to date has operated an aircraft engine with biofuel over a longer term," observed Wolfgang Mayrhuber. "Our fuel is sustainable. No rain forest will be deforested for Lufthansa biofuel. In the procurement of biofuel, we ensure it originates from a sustainable supply and production process. Our licensed suppliers must provide proof of the sustainability of their processes."

The term “biofuel” refers to a wide range of fuels derived in some way from biomass—for example bioethanol, which is produced by fermenting sugars.  The bio-synthetic kerosene Lufthansa will be using “rests on the basis of pure biomass (Biomass to Liquid-BTL),” explains a German Aerospace Centre Press release.  It will be produced by Finnish fuel company Neste Oil, whose biofuel is expected to be certified in March 2011.  Biofuel use is only a part of a four-tier strategy being aimed at reducing pollution from air traffic.

“Only an integrated research approach of the like practiced in research networks, above and beyond the classical discrete disciplines, offers the chance of achieving the ambitious climate protection objectives by 2020 and, simultaneously, safeguarding the technological competitiveness of the German aviation industry,” said Peter Hintze, Parlimentary secretary of state at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.