14 DAY TRIAL // An environmentally friendly aviation fuel rolled out by LanzaTech has recently been awarded the gold standard certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomass.
This means that, unlike other biofuels that either have a negative impact on the food industry or can be linked to deforestation, the one developed by LanzaTech is as environmentally friendly as it gets.
Business Green tells us that, for the time being, most biofuel companies are working around the clock trying to produce biofuels from sustainable materials such as algae or waste.
However, LanzaTech's plant near Beijing has turned its attention towards making the most of carbon-rich gases resulting from either steel-making or other industrial processes.
"LanzaTech uses a novel biological approach to transform carbon rich waste gases and residues from industry into fuels and chemicals."
"By capturing the carbon from the gas, LanzaTech is able to reuse it as a fuel or sequester it into chemical intermediates that can be used in the manufacture of new products such as plastics, nylon and rubber," the company explains on its website.
LanzaTech further details that, the way it sees things, the practice of turning waste resources into low carbon fuels is bound to both yield significant benefits in terms of environmental protection and promote energy security.
Virgin Atlantic, one of LanzaTech's partners, says that this environmentally friendly jet fuel releases about 60% fewer emissions than conventional aviation fuels do.
What's more, it argues that, should this technology be implemented at steel plants worldwide, the resulting biofuel would be more than enough to meet 19% of the global demand.
"We trust this certification will help accelerate the acceptance of biofuels made through carbon capture technologies and serve to showcase the possibilities opened up by thinking of carbon emissions as an opportunity, not just a problem," Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, the current chief executive of LanzaTech, commented on Roundtable on Sustainable Biomass' decision to award the gold standard certification to this biofuel.
"RSB's certification of the Beijing facility is a crucial step to ensure this revolutionary new fuel will meet the highest possible environmental standards and will result in a radical reduction in our carbon footprint," added Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic.