World’s first green fuel initiative by the Queensland government to slash greenhouse gas emissions by fuelling planes with algae

At the world’s biggest Biotechnology Conference, Bio 2010 at Chicago, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced a research consortium that will locate a major aviation biofuel project in Brisbane. Boeing and Virgin Blue along with major US green energy company Amyris are a part of the consortium led by the University of Queensland.

The Queensland partners in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative include Mackay Sugar, Brisbane-based IOR Energy, James Cook University and Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries.

“Queensland is set to become the home for cleaner, greener, renewable jet fuel,” said Bligh. “The aviation industry accounts for about two per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions which may grow to three per cent unless further action is taken to reduce emissions. We’re leading the way on aviation bio-fuels research,” she said.

The Queensland government has invested $2 million in the project through UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) which will research the production of aviation biofuels.

Boeing has committed $450,000 (Rs 2.03 crore) to the project and Amyris is investing more than $1 million. Bligh said that the AIBN Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative, led by Professor Lars Nielsen was world’s first, and could have a big impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry.

Professor Neilson said there were already 18,000 aircraft in operation and another 25,000 were expected to enter service in the next 20 years. “Reducing the environmental impact of flying is a key challenge in tackling climate change,” he said.