First Harvest of Energy-Rich Tobacco to Make Sustainable Aviation Biofuel

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zekest

Lifer
Apr 1, 2013
1,136
9
MARBLE HALL, South Africa, Dec. 9, 2014 – Boeing [NYSE:BA] and South African Airways (SAA) announced today that South African farmers will soon harvest their first crop of energy-rich tobacco plants, an important step towards using the plants to make sustainable aviation biofuel.
Boeing and SAA, along with partners SkyNRG and Sunchem SA, also officially launched Project Solaris, their collaborative effort to develop an aviation biofuel supply chain with a nicotine-free tobacco plant called Solaris. In Limpopo province, company representatives and industry stakeholders visited commercial and community farms where 123 acres (50 hectares) of Solaris have been planted.
Oil from the plant’s seeds may be converted into bio-jet fuel as early as next year, with a test flight by SAA as soon as practicable.
“SAA continues to work towards becoming the most environmentally sustainable airline in the world and is committed to a better way of conducting business,” said Ian Cruickshank, Environmental Affairs Specialist, SAA Group. “The impact that the biofuel program will have on South Africans is astounding: thousands of jobs mostly in rural areas, new skills and technology, energy security and stability and macro-economic benefits to South Africa, and of course, a massive reduction in the amount of CO2 that is emitted into our atmosphere.”
“It is very exciting to see early progress in South Africa towards developing sustainable aviation biofuel from energy-producing tobacco plants,” said J. Miguel Santos, managing director for Africa, Boeing International. “Boeing strongly believes that our aviation biofuel collaboration with South African Airways will benefit the environment and public health while providing new economic opportunities for South Africa’s small farmers. This project also positions our valued airline customer to gain a long-term, viable domestic fuel supply and improve South Africa’s national balance of payments.”
The farm visits followed the announcement in August that Boeing, SAA and SkyNRG were collaborating to make aviation biofuel from the Solaris plant, which was developed and patented by Sunchem Holding. If the test farming in Limpopo is successful, the project will be expanded in South Africa and potentially to other countries. In coming years, emerging technologies are expected to increase aviation biofuel production from the plant’s leaves and stems.
Sustainable aviation biofuel made from Solaris plants can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by 50 to 75 percent, ensuring it meets the sustainability threshold set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). Airlines have conducted more than 1,600 passenger flights using aviation biofuel since the fuel was approved for commercial use in 2011.
Boeing is the industry leader in global efforts to develop and commercialize sustainable aviation biofuel. In addition to its collaboration in Southern Africa, Boeing has active biofuel development projects in the United States, Middle East, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Brazil and Australia.
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2014-12-09-Boeing-South-African-Airways-Look-to-First-Harvest-of-Energy-Rich-Tobacco-to-Make-Sustainable-Aviation-Biofuel

 

papipeguy

Lifer
Jul 31, 2010
15,778
35
Bethlehem, Pa.
Interesting. As long as they don't screw with perique I'm good with this development although it is kind of funny if tobacco saves the planet.

 

zekest

Lifer
Apr 1, 2013
1,136
9
"The exciting thing about using this type of tobacco to make bio-fuel is that you can replace the tobacco that is grown for smoking products, cigarettes, with an energy crop that can be used to make jet fuel," said Boeing's Jessica Kowal.

 

woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
11,569
15,216
SE PA USA
They are just harvesting the seeds, not the leaf, then pressing them for oil. That would lower the value of the crop by about...oh... 600%. 123 acres of tobacco yields how many seeds? I'll bet at best that they'll squeeze a 5 gallon can of finished fuel out of that project. So silly.
But if you don't think about it, it's such a great idea!

 

darwin

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 9, 2014
820
5
This is simply insane. The oil from the seeds of 123 acres of plants converted to aviation bio fuel could power a jet for maybe 15 seconds. Obviously this project is a scheme to milk funds from gullible government bureaucrats.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
43,248
108,346
Finally, tobacco for this pipe! :rofl:
http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=131422741987

 
Mar 30, 2014
2,853
78
wv
So that's why the sky looks like a checker board nowadays. I took this pic myself at work a few weeks ago.
Om9ueVA.jpg


 
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