European Carbon Regulation for Airlines Takes Off

ENN, January 04, 2012

2012 started with some good news. On Sunday, the European Union began charging all airlines flying into and out of Europe for their carbon emissions. Covering a third of all global flights, this new scheme is one of the widest-reaching measures adopted lately by any country or regional bloc to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Given all the hurdles and protest it faced, the fact that this scheme actually began is not just an incredible accomplishment for the EU, but also a bit of a miracle. The new scheme will make all airlines flying to, from or within the EU liable for their CO2 emissions. They will receive tradable carbon allowances, covering a certain amount of CO2 emitted each year, based on historic data. Carriers that exceed their limit will be able to buy allowances from other carriers that have emitted less than allowed. The EU believes this cap and trade scheme is the fairest way to cope with aviation’s contribution to global warming and incentivize airlines to reduce their footprint, which represents about 3 percent of global CO2 emissions. Read more...

Environmental Leader, February 15, 2010

British Airways plans to build a plant that will produce biojet fuel from plasma gasification of biomass, reports The Engineer. Touted as Europe’s first sustainable jet-fuel plant, the facility will process all types of biomass and residue feedstock that will primarily be sourced from local waste management facilities, according to the article.
In partnership with the Solena Group, British Airways says the jet-fuel plant will help power its fleet from 2014, and help the company meet its goal to reduce net carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050, reports New Energy Focus. Read more...

EU reaches landmark deal to cap airline emissions

ENN, June 27, 2008

BRUSSELS: The European Union reached a landmark agreement Thursday to cap emissions from aircraft, raising the stakes in an increasingly ferocious battle with the United States over how to regulate global greenhouse gases.
In the first requirement of its kind, all airlines arriving or leaving from airports located in the EU would be obliged to buy some pollutin credits beginning in 2012, joining other industrial polluters that trade in the European emissions market. That includes non-European carriers like American Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Read more...

Flying High on Algae - KLM Tests Algae-Based Kerosene for Airplane Fuel

ENN, June 5, 2008

Dovetailing nicely into my post last week about the work GreenFuel is doing with algae and their emissions-to-fuel process, air carrier KLM reported last week their intention to begin testing airplanes that run on an algae-based fuel.
In a pilot program with AlgaeLink, a Netherlands-based global manufacturer of algae growing equipment and “earth-to-engine” technology, KLM expects to conduct test flights this fall. AlgaeLink will also open two plants this year in the Netherlands and Spain. Read more...

MEPs reject watered-down airline emission targets

EurActiv, May 28, 2008

MEPs have declared a de facto war against national governments by maintaining their demands for strict emission reduction targets for Europe's rapidly growing aviation sector, despite ministers' insistence on a more industry-friendly approach.
The report, backed by members of Parliament[s environment committee in a second reading vote on 27 May, states that airlines operating in Europe should not be allowed to continue emitting the same levels of greenhouse gases as the period 2004-2006 after 2012 – as was proposed by the Council last April. Instead, it demands a 10% cut by 2011. Read more...

Airline in first biofuel flight

BBC News, February 24, 2008

The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuel has taken place.
A Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet has flown between London's Heathrow and Amsterdam using fuel derived from a mixture of Brazilian babassu nuts and coconuts. Read more...

EU launches 'Clean Sky' research project for low-carbon aircraft

EurActiv, February 6, 2008

European Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik yesterday launched a seven-year, €1.6 billion public-private partnership aimed at helping the aviation industry to develop environmentally friendly technology.
Through the 'Clean Sky' Joint-Technology Initiative launched in Brussels on 5 February, industry hopes to develop technology that will allow aircraft noise to be cut by half and emissions of CO2 and NOx to be slashed by 50% and 80% respectively by 2020. Read more...

Biofuel trial flight set for 747

BBC News September 28, 2007

Air New Zealand says it plans to mount the first test flight of a commercial airliner partially powered by biofuel. The 747 flight is one part of a deal signed by the airline, engine producer Rolls-Royce and aircraft manufacturer Boeing to research "greener" flying.
One of the four engines will run on a mixture of kerosene and a biofuel, and is set for late 2008 or early 2009. Read more...