Honeywell Partners to Study Biofuels Use for Commercial Aircraft

Honeywell (News - Alert) announced that UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, and Honey Aerospace will partner with Airbus, JetBlue Airways, and International Aero Engines to study sustainable biofuel use for commercial aircraft.

 

The effort will focus on developing and testing renewable energy technology to convert biofeedstocks to commercial aviation fuels, with specific focus on “second generation” feedstocks such as algae, which do not compete with food or water resources.

 

“Biofuels hold tremendous potential to meet growing fuel demand while reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions,” said Jennifer Holmgren, director of the Renewable Energy and Chemicals business for UOP. “This partnership brings together a range of aviation and process technology expertise to study and verify the best path toward sustainable use of biofuels in aviation.”

 

Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.

 

UOP, a leading developer of refining technology, has already developed process technology to convert natural oils and greases to military jet fuel as part of a project funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

 

The process technology produces “green” jet fuel that is a drop-in replacement for traditional kerosene-based jet fuel and meets all the critical performance specifications for flight. This technology will also be viable for use in the production of jet fuel for commercial jets. UOP is developing a range of biofuels technologies in addition to jet fuel and has already commercialized the UOP/Eni Ecofining Process to produce green diesel from biofeedstocks.

 

Honeywell Aerospace brings expertise in engine technology for commercial aircraft that are setting the standards in low emissions and exceptional fuel efficiency, including a wide range of auxiliary power units for Airbus aircraft.

“Honeywell is working alongside key customers to find innovative solutions to meet passenger and operator demands for higher standards in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Greg Albert, Honeywell Aerospace vice president for Airbus programs. “We believe this joint effort, along with Honeywell's advanced technology solutions in Air Traffic Management, have the potential to significantly decrease pollutants.”

UOP LLC is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, process plants, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part of Honeywell's Specialty Materials strategic business group.

Based in Phoenix, Honeywell's $12 billion aerospace business is a leading global provider of integrated avionics, engines, systems and service solutions for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation, military, space and airport operations.

Eve Sullivan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Eve’s articles, please visit her columnist page.