Japanese airlines, universities and other organizations have launched an initiative to produce and supply biofuel to commercial airlines ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. By April next year, the so-called Initiatives for Next Generation Aviation Fuels (INAF) will produce a roadmap which will indicate topics and measures for the reduction of harmful emissions from air traffic.
The main players are the University of Tokyo, Boeing, Japan Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Narita International Airport and Japan Petroleum Exploration. INAF, founded in May, also includes trading and manufacturing companies, as well as Euglena, a start-up developing products from euglena, an algae-like component.
Harmful gases from air traffic account for 2% of the world's total emissions. A percentage destined to rise, given the expected increase in travel demand of 4-5% per year in the coming years. "We want to address the problem and create an industry capable of welcoming athletes and spectators to the next Olympics," said Hiroko Nakamura, project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo.
The recent rise in oil prices has put pressure on airline budgets which are now increasingly seeking viable green alternatives to oil. INAF's business model involves the production of biofuel from municipal waste, algae and inedible plants.
During the recent FIFA World Cup in Brazil, teams traveled on planes that used biofuel generated from sugar cane.
Attachments: Asahi
