New consortium seeks to simplify biofuel certification standards

Boeing and a Swiss group on Mar. 22 launched the Sustainable Biomass Consortium, a research initiative seeking to help develop and simplify biofuel certification standards. The Swiss group, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently created the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels.

The consortium plans to use the roundtable’s sustainability standard to set regional benchmarks based on aviation biofuel projects. Various airlines already have tested biofuels. The consortium plans to work with groups implementing voluntary standards or regulatory requirements for biomass used in jet fuel.

Research projects will commence in April, and the anticipated work during the next 2 years will include projects in China, Africa, the European Union, Latin America, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Billy Glover, vice-president of environmental and aviation policy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the aviation industry needs sustainable biofuel development.

“This consortium will help ensure we have a transparent way to collaborate among certification processes that guide us towards a more sustainable future,” Glover said.

Sustainable biofuel development is a key element of the aviation industry’s strategy to lower its carbon emissions, he added. Meanwhile, unrest in the Middle East has driven up jet fuel prices, emphasizing the importance of alternate fuel sources.

US energy subsidies: measuring apples to apples?

Whenever discussing federal energy subsidies, I typically think of the ethanol industry. But lately I find myself wondering about how to accurately compare subsidies and tax credits across fuel types.

This question stems from recent publicity about extensions for production tax credits (PTC) for wind power. The US Energy Information Administration reports PTC significantly encouraged wind capacity growth.

During 1999-2007, wind power was the only primary energy source for which production increased each year, EIA said. Wind producers received an estimated $666 million in PTC during fiscal year 2007. This was distributed over 27.7 million Mw-hr.

EIA reports the US government spent an estimated $16.6 billion in energy subsidies and support programs during 2007. Only $4.9 billion of that went toward renewable energy. Certain fossil fuels also were heavily subsidized.

I have yet to find any cost comparisons per btu between various types of subsidized fuels.