Chris Kjelgaard

A new jet biofuel feedstock developed by researchers at the University of Illinois could produce up to 15 times more jet fuel per hectare than soybeans, according to the scientists. If grown on 23 million acres of now-marginal land in the U.S. Southeast, it could supply 65 percent of U.S. jet-A consumption, they said.

 


Funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, the university’s “Plants Engineered to Replace Oil in Sugarcane and Sweet Sorghum” project has developed a sugarcane that produces, instead of sugar, an oil called lipidcane that can be directly converted to jet-A. At the plant’s 20 percent theoretical maximum level of oil, all of its sugar would be replaced by oil and would thus produce 15 times more jet fuel compared with soybeans.

 


Researchers are now engineering the oil-producing sugarcane to be more cold-tolerant than regular sugarcane so it can be grown on marginal land not used for agriculture. They estimate lipidcane-derived jet biofuel would cost $5.31 per gallon. While this is lower than most reported prices for oil crop-derived renewable jet fuel, it is $3.52 per gallon more than the current $1.79 composite jet fuel price for Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York reported by the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Price Index.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

New Jet Biofuel Derived from Oil-producing Sugarcane

If grown on 23 million acres of now-marginal land in the U.S. Southeast, the sugarcane-plant feedstock could supply 65 percent of U.S. jet-A consumption.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Early commitments to new program come from business aircraft operators Comlux and Luxaviation

Airbus Customers Get Easier Access to SAF Book-and-claim

Amy Wilder

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Ten-year deal brings fuel operations changes  

Platinum, World Fuel Expand Gold Coast Fuel Partnership

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

UK government consultation on revenue certainty mechanism

Jet Fuel Suppliers Could Pay for UK SAF Pricing Mechanism

Successful HVO and SAF production tests pave way for energy transition

MOL Group Advances SAF Production with Slovnaft Test

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Organization to offer technical expertise and networking

SAFII Created To Unite SAF Stakeholders in Aviation

Chad Trautvetter

Accounting process could help to speed up adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, says coalition

EBAA Demands Clear Plan for SAF Book-and-claim in Europe

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Catalsys says on-site fuel production could more efficiently support electric power distribution

Ammonia Proposed as Fuel Source for Airport and Aircraft Power

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Fuel