The company needs approval from US regulators to move forward with this project

Jan 16, 2014 08:29 GMT  ·  By

This past January 14, The Boeing Company, i.e. one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, issued a press release saying that it was looking into the possibility of using so-called green diesel to power its airlines.

On its website, the United States-based company details that it is currently working closely with the country's Federal Administration and other stakeholders to obtain approval to move forward with its project.

Boeing explains that the green diesel it wishes to use as jet fuel is made from vegetable oils and fats.

At a molecular level, this environmentally friendly fuel is said not to be all that different from run-off-the-mill petroleum-based diesel, the aircraft manufacturer adds. Hence, it can be used with existing infrastructure.

The Boeing Company does not wish to use green diesel alone to keep its airliners up and running. On the contrary, it wants to blend it with traditional fuel.

Should things go as planned, the fuel blend that the aircraft manufacturer wants to start using could contain up to 50% renewable diesel.

The company's move to use green diesel to power airlines boils down to its trying to improve on the ecological footprint of the aviation sector.

Thus, this fuel is estimated to emit about 50% less carbon dioxide throughout its life cycle than fossil fuels have been documented to do.

Besides, Boeing believes that the renewable diesel could be bought at a wholesale price of $3 (€2.2) per gallon, and says that this would make it competitive with petroleum jet fuel.

“Green diesel approval would be a major breakthrough in the availability of competitively priced, sustainable aviation fuel,” says Dr. James Kinder with the Boeing commercial airplanes propulsion systems division.

“Boeing wants to establish new pathways for sustainable jet fuel, and this green diesel initiative is a groundbreaking step in that long journey.”

“To support our customers, industry and communities, Boeing will continue to look for opportunities to reduce aviation's environmental footprint,” adds Julie Felgar, managing director of Boeing commercial airplanes environmental strategy and integration.