14 DAY TRIAL // Spaniards have just added another important date in their calendar yesterday, when Iberia and Repsol have staged the country's first commercial flight powered by biofuel.
An Iberia Airbus A320 flew from Madrid to Barcelona, burning 2,600 kg (5,732lbs) of a mix between A-1 jet fuel and biofuel derived from the camelina sativa plant.
Camelina sativa, an inedible oil plant, grows widely and can be cultivated in Spain.
The fuel in question is, in fact, a mixture of synthesized paraffin bio-kerosene, produced by Honeywell-UOP and evaluated and certified by Repsol at its Technological Center. It reportedly allows for reductions of almost 20% in greenhouse gas emissions.
The use of the mixed fuel led to a C02 emission reduction of nearly 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs).
Iberia, which provided a modified Airbus 320 along with crew and handling services for the flight, also used iON Peugeot electric vehicles for ground assistance.
The flight was a part of Spain's pioneering "Green Flight" project, which kicked off in early 2011 and aims at increasing the use of biofuels in aviation.
Following the flight, the two companies have pledged to explore further initiatives aimed at bringing biofuels into widespread aviation use.
Iberia's chairman Antonio Vazquez commented that "Iberia is proud to contribute our experience as an airline and an aircraft maintenance company to this initiative. The fight against climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, and biofuels are essential for reducing our reliance on oil, increasing our competitiveness, and achieving the ambitious emissions-reduction targets set by the airline industry."
Repsol's Downstream division Director General Pedro Fernandez Frial said the biofuel-powered flight “is another step for Repsol in its commitment to sustainable mobility, driving the development of second-generation biofuels.”