Virgin Airlines uses biofuel

The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 flight was part of a joint initiative with planemaker Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aviation to develop a "sustainable aircraft fuel." No passengers were onboard.

Virgin Atlantic President Richard Branson said the test flight would help the airline to use clean fuel sooner than expected.

"The demonstration flight will give us crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint," Branson said in a statement.

"Virgin Group pledged to invest all its profits from its transportation companies towards developing clean energy and with this breakthrough we are well down the path to achieving our goals."

Virgin said the fuel to be used for Sunday's flight -- a 20 percent biofuel mix of coconut and babassu oil in one of the plane's four main fuel tanks -- was of a type that wouldn't compete with food and fresh water resources amid mounting concerns among green campaigners about the environmental impact of biofuels.

Some studies suggest that converting land for crops such as palm oil used for biofuel can generate far more in carbon emissions than the savings delivered by the fuel.

Increased use of biofuels could also prompt food shortages, campaigners warn, as greater areas of farmland are turned over to biofuel production.


Kenneth Richter, Friends of the Earth aviation campaigner, said: "Biofuels are a major distraction in the fight against climate change. There is mounting evidence that the carbon savings from biofuels are negligible.

"If Virgin was really serious about reducing the aviation industry's impact on the environment it would support calls for aircraft emissions to be included in the (UK government's) Climate Change Bill."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• biofuel
• virgin
• atlantic
• airlines
• boeing
• 747
• jet
• Richard
• Branson
• cnn

[lilihairmaceio]

Eu nem ligo p estes comentarios maldosos eu ador este cara ele e DEMAIS UI!!!!ADORARIA SER AMIGA DELE IRIA COM ELE ATE A LUA !!!

[strangemenssana]

I feel Branson is a man of our times.He is an unprincipled,shallow charlatan.The uneducated,conforming,drug taking,morally bankrupt,spineless rabble who are incapable of original or critical thought revere this fraud especially in the UK.

[strangemenssana]

Trying to feed 6.5 billion people has already caused severe environmental degredation.The crops grown to feed animals to eat in North America,Europe and increasingly in India and China use up land once occupied by other animals.Growing biofuels will only compound the pressures and ensuing destruction.

[agatutekudasai]

Atleast his doing something.

[greenboy215]

biofuels made from algae is still in reasearch. but if this research goes thru than its all good...but using hydrogen, or hydrogen electric is pretty good also. and the technology is being used one vehicles for lease in California right now.

[Iamfukenripped]

im sure they new about this shit for years.

[ratbatblue555]

rosie rosie rosie

[DBP1976]

The wave of the future are Biofuels made from algae and it can be produced an the desert. Sunlight feeds the algae.

[Raksaht]

No! Biofuel doesn't necessarily make food prices higher. It does if you use corn or soybeans for fuel stock. Jathropa, algae, etc don't promote the same problems. Using former food-growing land is not good either, but using 'marginal' land to grow fuel crops is best. Algae farming can be done on non-farm land. Petroleum is not necessary. The future is biofuel, wind power and of course, solar.

[timresel]

Biofuels makes food more expensive !

Perpetuum mobile is already invented, it's here and now, we can start use it now, not in 2020, engine is simple and cheap, the cars will be cheaper, cleaner and it will runs for free, also your planes, if you want !