What do you think of Virgin Atlantic's plan to use biofuel in 747s?

Question

"British billionaire Richard Branson said on Monday his Virgin Group hopes to produce clean biofuels by around the start of the next decade and early next year will test a jet plane on renewable fuel."

"Air New Zealand has said it plans to test a flight on a combination fuel of biofuel and kerosene in late 2008, but Virgin is trying to beat that airline by testing biofuels first."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071015/sc_nm/usa_financial_virgin_fuel_dc

I think that's pretty impressive. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

That IS pretty impressive. And absolutely necessary to keep airliners flying after the world runs out of oil, which will probably happen in about 100 years at the rate we are going. But long before that oil will become scarce and expensive. Too expensive to use as fuel.

Answer 2

It is immoral to burn food for energy. No matter who does it.

Biofuels consume much more polluting energy to produce than they give in energy.

Answer 3

I think that is impressive, especially that an aviation company is taking the initiative to become independent from big oil, by attempting to produce their own fuel, and if they manage to utilize a cellulosic process, that would definitely set an example for many different companies in the transportation sector. I wonder if Butanol is more efficient than ethanol?

Answer 4

My first reaction to biofuels is one of distaste, yet they can be done in an ethically and environmentally sound way. Will they though? At the moment I'm in one of my optimistic phases.

I dislike the way Branson is spinning it as an environmental measure, He's a businessman and he's seen peak oil in his crystal ball, that's all.

Impressive in what sense, engineering?

Mankind can do many things given enough incentive, Why not show more support for fuel economic aircraft, some work has been done. And easier than biofuels, a simple bit of kit to detect if the aircraft is creating con' trails, and reduce height in order not to. Those little clouds account for a third of an aircrats global warming effect by night when they trap the heat in, and the jury is still out on wether or not they are responsible for cloud seeding.

Niether of these however would give our Dickie a market lead however.

Ergo Greenwash.

Answer 5

I agree with John Sol-he's a business man first & foremost but since he seems to have a very good source (crystal ball-? ;-) ) of what's going to be 'popular' (sell well),  apparently GW is getting some of the attention it deserves. Good luck to him (and I think it will be impressive if someone can come up with fuel that's completely renewable)

Answer 6

It depends on the source of the biofuel.

If the biofuel is Palm Oil or contains Palm Oil, it is actually very destructive to the environment.

Currently millions of acres of very sensitive land is being cleared to produce Palm Oil for biofuel.

This is extremely destructive to the environment.

If they can use a biofuel that does not contain Palm Oil, then I think that is a very positive and impressive development.

Answer 7

Its just a gimmick.   There isn't enough of the stuff available on the market yet to be wasteing it on airlines.   It should be used in cities where the lower amount of VOC's emmited will help peoples health.