I was amused to read this news report.
European low-cost carrier Wizz Air has struck a long-term deal with UK biofuels firm Firefly Green Fuels to source sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from sewage sludge, part of measures it hopes will enable it to achieve its newly set SAF usage targets.
Wizz today set out its goal of powering 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030 and has backed a new pathway being developed by Firefly, which aims to use human waste as a feedstock for the fuel.
The carrier is investing £5 million ($6.3 million) in Firefy to support the development and certification of SAF produced from sewage sludge.
”At Firefly we have chosen to address the decarbonisation of the aviation industry through the perhaps surprising medium of sewage – or to be accurate, through the medium of biosolids,” explained Firefly chief strategy officer Paul Hilditch during a press conference in London today.
There's more at the link.
An airliner fueled by sewage sludge . . . really?
- In a restaurant, a sommelier knows his wines. In the airline business, will the quality of fuel now be judged by a smellier?
- Fireflies' butts flash as they fly. If an airliner is fueled by Firefly, will its . . . oh, never mind.
- How does Firefly plan to cater for growth in its business - issue laxatives and label them "fuel additives"?
- I can't help laughing at the thought of future complaints from those living around large airports. Aviation in bad odor again?
You'll have to excuse my sometimes schoolboyish sense of humor.
Peter
Its not approved as a air fuel yet, the rules for aircraft fuel are extremely strict because a plane can't just pull off the road when an engine quits from bad fuel.
ReplyDeleteLots of start ups over the years have tried to make bio-jet fuel but none could do it consistently enough to get certification. The airline knows this, knows that using this stuff would get them shut down. So its most likely them tossing money at it to be able to tell the idiot radicals they are doing something
Exile1981
I believe this is the fuel that will power the Supersonic Heavy Intercontinental Transport!
ReplyDeleteMost biofuels have issues with thickening and gelling at low temperatures ... like those encountered at 30,000 feet. Same reason vegetable oils are not good diesel substitutes in cold climates.
ReplyDeleteBut this kind of nonsense will continue so long as some idiot government will fund the research and make irrational "nudges" for public relations purposes, and some idiot company is willing to play along.
"we have chosen to address the decarbonisation of the aviation industry"
ReplyDeleteEither the Firefly spokesperson is incredibly ignorant of the chemistry of fuels or something new has been created. Humans consume primarily carbohydrates as our "fuel". Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Fats are primarily carbon and hydrogen, while proteins contain the previous named elements plus nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. Human waste will therefore be composed of these elements. My guess (and it is a guess) is the process being alluded to most likely produces another carbon based compound for use as a fuel. If the reduction of CO2 is the goal, it won't happen this way....
USN experience with biodiesel was it ended up more expensive and difficult to certify.
ReplyDeleteDon't be surprised if this idea ends up being flushed down the toilet!
Wizz Airlines. I guess they get to piss people off more than any other company.
ReplyDeleteWizz. Get it?
Hamsterman and Beans, yes, you two in the back of the classroom snickering.
ReplyDeleteStop it. Whatever you're doing or not doing.
TXRed
Wizz Airline. Because they piss away lots of money.
ReplyDeleteLook for the bankruptcy announcement in the financial pages.
Nephew-in-law is the maintenance guy at an algae farm. The algae is used to produce biodiesel for off-road and farming use. It is strictly warm weather fuel as it gels at 35 degrees. He runs it in his 99 F-250 7.3L diesel truck that has over 300k miles on the clock.
ReplyDeleteIF they can make useable airliner fuel from sewage, no matter what the form I say more power to them. Hopefully being downwind of such a flight won't be too odiferous.
ReplyDelete