Etihad predicts biofuel flights within five years

Etihad Airways are collaborating with Total and Boeing to develop aviation biofuels in the United Arab Emirates.

The BIOjet Abu Dhabi project was announced in the wake of an Etihad Boeing 777 flight that was part-powered by the first UAE-produced biokerosene.

According to Etihad,  the 45-minute flight was the latest step towards operating commercial flights using biofuels and similar flights could be available within five years.

Working with Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company Masdar, the group is looking to develop a supply chain that will bring aviation biofuel production and refining capabilities to the nation.

Masdar is currently developing salt-tolerant plants that could provide the raw material for the renewable fuel. It is hoped that species such as salicornia could be grown in coastal areas, allowing for large scale production of energy crops that could be grown without impacting scarce water supplies in the region. However, agricultural waste and date palm leaves are also being considered as potential feed stocks for the project.

The plan would help Etihad significantly curb its carbon emissions.