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BioFuelNet Canada, Airbus, AC to develop advanced biofuel

May 13, 2013, Montreal - BioFuelNet has signed an agreement with Air Canada and Airbus to help them find the most promising biofuels for aviation.


May 13, 2013  By Carey Fredericks

Air Canada and Airbus are part of a broad coalition, which has
pledged Carbon Neutral Growth from 2020 and to reduce greenhouse
emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. BioFuelNet Canada,
a not-for-profit organization hosted by Montreal's McGill University,
will assess the viability of various Canadian advanced biofuels
solutions for aviation. Their research will focus on diverse raw
materials, such as municipal solid waste and agricultural and forestry
waste, as well as a range of conversion processes available for biofuel
production. The ultimate goal is to determine which advanced biofuels
are the most sustainable for aviation. The agreement was signed at
BioFuelNet's headquarters in the Quartier de l'innovation (QI) in Montreal, on the 13th of May 2013, the day of the official QI launch.

 

Dr. Donald Smith, President of BioFuelNet and McGill
University Professor stated, "Aviation biofuels are one of the most
promising ways to reduce the aviation industry's carbon footprint,
making air travel more environmentally-friendly. Airbus and Air Canada
are key players in the field, dedicated to finding the most sustainable
fuel sources for the future of air travel. These relationships are of
great importance to BioFuelNet Canada".

 

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"The commercialisation of sustainable alternative fuels is a
key to reducing our sectors carbon footprint. The support and leadership
of BioFuelNet in facilitating research and of airlines like Air Canada
is an essential element in achieving this. Together we are showing that
new lower carbon footprint aviation fuels work on existing aircraft and
meet certification requirements," said Frédéric Eychenne, Airbus New
Energies Programme Manager.

 

"Air Canada has already operated two flights with biofuel and
on each occasion we substantially reduced our emissions. Encouraged by
these results, we look forward to participating in this project to
encourage the development of a source of alternative fuel in Canada. New
technologies, such as alternative fuels, are one of the ways our
industry plans to reduce its emissions to meet its target of
carbon-neutral growth for 2020 and beyond," said Paul Whitty, Director
of Fuel Purchasing and Supply at Air Canada and Chair of the Air Canada
Alternative Fuels Working Group.

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