A Continental Airlines plane burning jet fuel derived partially from algae landed at O’Hare International Airport Monday afternoon, marking the first U.S. commercial flight powered by biofuels.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 154 passengers, flew from Houston’s Bush International Airport using a blend of 60 percent traditional petroleum-based jet fuel and 40 percent aviation biofuel made from algal oil, officials said.
The “green jet fuel” was provided by Solazyme and produced using a process developed by Honeywell UOP.
The technology converts inedible natural oils and wastes into a more environmentally friendly jet fuel that offers as much as an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum-based jet fuel, officials said.
“Sustainable biofuels produced on a large scale at an economically viable price can one day play a meaningful role in powering everyone’s trip on an airline,” said Pete McDonald, United Airlines‘ executive vice president and chief operations officer.
What’s environmentally friendly about biofuels ? They are still putting CO2 into the atmosphere (at a reduced rate)