Research consortium targets green fuel

The Queensland Government has announced a world-first green fuel initiative aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by fuelling planes with algae.

In Chicago representing Queensland at biotechnology conference Bio 2010, Premier Anna Bligh announced a research consortium that would locate a major aviation biofuel project in Brisbane.

The consortium – led by the University of Queensland - brings together global aviation players including Boeing and Virgin Blue, along with major US green energy company Amyris.

Queensland partners in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative include Mackay Sugar, Brisbane-based IOR Energy, James Cook University and Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries.

“The aviation industry accounts for around two per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and that may grow to three per cent unless further action is taken to reduce emissions,” Bligh said.

“We’re leading the way on aviation biofuels research.

“With a growing focus on making our skies greener, this is big business and good for jobs and the environment.”

The Queensland Government has injected $2 million into the project through the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) which will research the production of aviation biofuels.

Boeing has committed $450,000 to the project and Amyris is investing more than $1 million.

The AIBN’s Professor Lars Neilson said the holy grail of global aviation and international research was focusing on finding a biofuel that was safe to use, could be produced sustainably and in the quantities to feed jets’ enormous appetite, and that was as cheap to produce as, if not cheaper than, fossil fuels.