Boeing seeks 'green diesel' approval for planes

US aircraft manufacturer is currently attempting to get approval to use green diesel as a fuel source for its planes. The company is working with stakeholders and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly on low-emission diesel in a bid to reduce aviation air pollution. 

Boeing has said that green diesel is a "significant" new source of fuel for the aviation industry, as it produces around 50 per cent fewer emissions than traditional fossil fuels throughout its lifecycle. The company performed research that found that green diesel is similar in terms of chemical makeup to the biofuel that is currently used in the industry, meaning that it is an appropriate alternative. If approval is granted for the use of green diesel, it could be blended with traditional fuels used within the aviation industry to reduce emissions. 

Green diesel has a different chemical makeup to biodiesel and can be used in any type of diesel engine, making it a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Current production of green diesel in Singapore, the US and Europe could provide around 600 million gallons to the aviation industry, accounting for around one per cent of the demand for jet fuel.

Julie Felgar, managing director of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Environmental Strategy and integration, said in a statement: "Boeing wants to establish new pathways for sustainable jet fuel, and this green diesel initiative is a groundbreaking step in that long journey. To support our customers, industry and communities, Boeing will continue to look for opportunities to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint."

Boeing's application for approval to use green fuel in its aircraft is part of its goal to help in the development of sustainable fuel for jets, which the company aids through being part of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG). All members of SAFUG work towards the development and commercialisation of low-emission and sustainable fuels for use in the aviation industry. The group was formed in 2008 in response to the growing cost of aviation fuels, which has meant that the industry will benefit more from alternative fuel sources.