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

Val Wemyss edited this page 2025-01-13 05:44:33 +08:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant market program in Las Vegas high-end jets are tempting buyers with their smooth shapes, plush cabins - and progressively, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase unique forms of aviation fuel considered less damaging to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have bowed to ecological pressure on aviation and committed to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that embracing sustainable fuel to suppress emissions might make organization jets more attractive to environmentally mindful buyers - particularly corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.

The availability of less contaminating private jets might likewise spare the rich and famous the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a recent private jet trip to southern France.

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

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

"All of our product is inedible."

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

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions worldwide, however can produce, on average, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has defended his periodic usage of personal jets to guarantee his household's security, and has stated that on the uncommon events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his travel plan have included fresh challenges for a market already striving to justify its contribution to cutting business costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving making use of private jets are regrettable when you think about that our market has provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation Coleal.

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

But even an image transformation - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.

Environmentalists and some analysts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, typically combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant impact on public understandings about luxury travel.

"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make organization jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from business jet operators for renewable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could broaden production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and experts are also seeing more interest from customers who wish to buy carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a role in a business jet usage research study his company recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I think that cost, cost per hour, variety, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I believe individuals are becoming more mindful of the sustainability of operations and how it affects the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)