1. Introduction
The basis for globalization is global transportation and a driving force has been the growth in global air traffic. Projections by the aviation industry predict a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) future with a growth of 5% per year. Currently, aviation fuel is almost exclusively extracted from the kerosene fraction of crude oil.
When future energy scenarios are discussed a BAU scenario is also normally included. The most well-known scenario for future oil production is the one delivered by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its yearly publication World Energy Outlook (WEO). This scenario is based on a growing global economy and that growth needs more oil.
The nations of the world are now gathering to make decisions to reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide. On the agenda is a target for a reduction in oil use on the order of 20% by 2020 and even more in the future. The Peak Oil community also discusses such a decline, but the decline is not based on political decisions, rather it is based on the fact that oil production in the future will naturally decline. Peak Oil scenarios can be said to be consistent with the ambitions of politicians.
Feedstock (input) flexibility.
–Process can use almost any renewable oil source.
•Agriculture crops, aquaculture crops, energy crops, animal fats,waste greases, etc.
–Allows for the use of the cheapest and most readily available feedstock at any given time or location.
•Biofuel (output) flexibility.
–Can produce biojet fuel, 2ndgeneration biodiesel/additive, and bio-gasoline.
–Allows for output options to maximize the economics; also provides for interim markets during fuel qualification testing.
•Performance and aviation compliance.
–> 85% energy conversion efficiency.
–Compliant to biojet fuel requirements –cold flow, energy density, etc.
–Translates into higher yields, lower costs, and easier qualification.
•Maturity, scalability and affordability.
–Demonstrated results drive down risk; scalability well-understood.
–Initial economics shows attractive operating costs per gallon ofoutput.