Carbon War Room’s guide to the top renewable jet fuels
- By Robyn Kimber -
- Jan 02, 2012
Interview with Suzanne Hunt from the Carbon War Room about their new RenewableJetFuels.org website.
Name: Suzanne Hunt
Company: Carbon War Room
Role: Head of Renewable Fuels and Aviation.
Length at Carbon War Room: A year and a half
Loves: Singing in my bluegrass band, horseback riding, food & wine
Hates: Pollution, corruption, politicians sans spinal columns
Recommends: Support your local farmers, spend less time online and more time outdoors
Why does Carbon War Room have a Renewable Fuels and Aviation battle?
Aviation is responsible for 650 million tonnes, or approximately 2-3% of annual human-generated CO2e emissions. Emissions within the sector are set to grow by 75% or more by 2020 under business as usual, the Carbon War Room is sinking its teeth into yet another challenge: Renewable Jet Fuels.
Has the aviation industry embraced the issue of climate change?
Internationally, the aviation industry has made a voluntary commitment to zero emission growth starting in 2020 – with mandatory limits on green house gas emissions coming from the European Trading Scheme. New planes, are much more efficient than the previous generation. Yet, while these advances are impressive demand is quickly outpacing efficiency improvements. The one area where change can be made at speed and scale is in the fuel that planes use.
What is the advantage for the airlines to look into renewable fuels?
Fuel price costs represent ~35% of a typical airline’s operating costs. Airlines that gain access to new sources of fuel that are not only sustainable, but less susceptible to price fluctuations, will have a major competitive advantage. This is where renewable jet fuel companies come in. There are a multitude of renewable jet fuel companies in a nascent market. Yet, questions remain related to their operations –such as whether or not they are in commercial stage production? Are they certified sustainable by credible third party organisations? Can they scale to meet demand?
What part is Carbon War Room playing?
The Carbon War Room over the past year has been compiling a database that answers these questions. In essence, it is a decision support tool for airlines, fuel purchasers, suppliers and investors that provide uniform information to the market so that all key stakeholders can make informed decisions about this nascent market – RenewableJetFuels.org.
What is the purpose of RenewableJetFuels.org?
RenewableJetfuels.org will provide the world's first online market information service analyzing the leading companies set to supply commercial scale renewable fuel for aviation. Launched and maintained by Carbon War Room and powered by Elsevier Biofuel TechSelectTM, this new information solution will allow in-depth scrutiny of renewable jet fuel producers. The team is collecting and validating over 70 detailed data points for every producer (designed to contain the top 2,000). Investors, engineers, operators and fuel buyers can use this data to compare suppliers on technical performance, economic viability and carbon footprint.
What is Carbon War Room’s ambition?
Ultimately, Carbon War Room wants to see renewable jet fuels being produced sustainability at commercial scale at multiple facilities and are on track to become economically viable for use by all airlines and other jet fuel users globally.
Follow Carbon War Room at:
Website: www.carbonwarroom.com
Website: Renewablejetfuels.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Carbon-War-Room
Twitter: twitter.com/#%21/cwarroom
LinkedIn: CWR LinkedIn
Follow Suzanne on Twitter: @HuntGreen
By Robyn Kimber. Tweets at @robynkimber
