United Airlines Investing In Animal Poop For Jet Engine Fuels (Photo : REUTERS/JEFF HAYNES)
United Airlines will begin powering commercial flights this summer with biofuel namely those derived from animal excrement and fats.
The fuel which is being referred to as dung diesel is part of the airline's initiative to address the issues of greenhouse gases together with recent aviation emission restrictions which have cropped up owing to guidelines being laid down by the Obama administration, according to the New York Times.
The announcement of the airline's green fuel energy project has comes in the wake of its recent US$ 30 million investment in a bioenergy company called Fulcrum in California. The company is currently one of the more popular names in the biofuel industry, according to the publication.
The California based company has developed technology that is certified and capable of converting municipal waste and household refuse into aviation fuel.
The fuel that is produced at the company is capable of being blended with traditional fuels used for aircrafts, the publication reported.
According to the publication, the bioenergy company is gearing to open a refinery in 2 years' time in Nevada, with more refineries to be set up around the United States.
The airlines managing director for environmental affairs, Angela Rice told the newspaper there is an interest by airlines to invest in biofuels. Recently it was reported that Alaska Airlines aimed to go green as well and is considering biofuels in 2020 at one of its airports.
The energy saving dung diesel will be tested by United Airlines on 4 or 5 flights between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Environmentalist are looking at bi fuels to aid airlines to only cut fuel cost down but to also reduce the amount of pollution by carbon emissions, according to Tech Times.
The tech website reported that it takes Fulcrum less than a dollar to produce a gallon of biofuel, while United Airlines has reportedly purchased fuel at US$2.11 per gallon for this year.
