EADS showcases first biofuel flights

EADS is showcasing the world’s first flights of an aircraft powered by pure biofuel, made from algae, at the Berlin International Air Show.

A Diamond Aircraft DA42 New Generation powered by two Austro Engine AE300 engines is taking part in the daily flight demonstrations.

Due to the higher energy content of the algae biofuel, the fuel consumption of the Diamond DA42 New Generation is 1.5 litres per hour lower than that of conventional JET-A1 fuel – while maintaining equal performance.

Tests have also proved that only relatively minor modifications and adjustments had to be made to the aircraft’s engines to qualify the biofuel for the demonstration flights.

EADS says algae are considered to be promising potential feedstock for biofuels, as certain species of algae contain high amounts of oil.

This oil can be extracted, processed and refined for various uses.

Grown for many years on a commercial basis for the development of products such as food supplements and cosmetics, microalgae have now emerged as one of the leading sources for alternative fuels.

Microalgae reproduce rapidly and create at least 30 times more organic substance (biomass) per cultivation area than, for example, rapeseed.

Their cultivation does not compete with food production.

Algae can be grown on poor-quality land using non-potable or saltwater.

“Our pure biofuel flight from algae is a world first and an exciting milestone in our research at EADS,” Dr Jean Botti, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of EADS, said.

“This opens up the feasibility of carbon-neutral flights and we will continue to focus our research in this exciting area.

“Third-generation biofuels are more than just a replacement for fossil petroleum - they push the possibilities of future propulsion.”

The exhaust gas quality measurements indicate that biofuel from algae contains eight times fewer hydrocarbons than kerosene derived from crude oil.

In addition, nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions will also be reduced due to the very low nitrogen and sulfur content of the biofuel compared to fossil fuel.

EADS research shows that all necessary technologies to develop the production of biofuel from algae are known, but industrial size and economy require further development.

EADS is working with partners towards a pilot project to develop the necessary industrial infrastructure.

The project is led by EADS Innovation Works, the corporate research and technology network of EADS, and supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Transportation and Technology through the Government of Upper Bavaria, with funding from the Bavarian aerospace research and technology program (Project Bay68 “Biofuel from Algae”).

The project is carried out in partnership with IGV GmbH of Potsdam, Diamond Aircraft, and Austro Engines of Austria.

The algae oil for flight testing and demonstration flights was delivered by Biocombustibles del Chubut S.A. in Argentina and refined into biofuel by VTS Verfahrenstechnik Schwedt, Germany.

Currently it is significantly more expensive to produce oil from algae in comparison to sourcing crude oil.

If algae-based fuel is to be able to compete with kerosene, research and development work must aim to establish a cost-effective mass production of algae biofuels using industrial quantities of carbon dioxide.

The climate protection goals for the year 2020 set by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) include a carbon dioxide reduction by 50 per cent and a nitrogen oxides reduction by 80 per cent.