Boeing looking to gutter oil, tobacco for biofuel

August 18, 2014 – Boeing recently announced a pair of
international investments targeted at the development of low-emission biofuels
for its aircraft.

On August 6^th, Boeing announced a partnership
with South African Airways to develop sustainable aviation biofuel from a new
type of tobacco plant.

SkyNRG is expanding production of the hybrid plant known as
Solaris, developed by Italian company Sunchem, as an energy crop that farmers
could grow instead of traditional tobacco. Test farming of the plants, which
are effectively nicotine-free, is underway in South Africa with biofuel
production expected from large and small farms in the next few years.
Initially, oil from the plant's seeds will be converted into jet fuel. In
coming years, Boeing expects emerging technologies to increase South Africa's
aviation biofuel production from the rest of the plant. Solaris can be used as
a bio jet fuel feedstock that can help to significantly reduce cost price
levels towards fossil parity and has the potential to reduce 80% of CO2
emissions compared to fossil kerosene.

Boeing also recently announced that it will be building a
production line to turn gutter oil (used cooking oil) into aviation fuel along
with its partner, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China. The line will have the
capacity to produce up to have a ton of fuel each day starting in September
according to ECNS.