More airlines strive to reduce carbon footprint [News]

The world’s airlines have committed to achieve carbon neutral growth by 2020 and globally, airlines are looking to implement new initiatives and incentives to keep up with industry and reduce their carbon footprint.

German airline Lufthansa said it has been reporting its environmental initiatives since 1994, and is looking to take things to the next level to be a driver of change.

For example, the airline will be undertaking the largest investment program in its corporate history to advance its fleet.

Frank Puttmann, Head of Corporate Communications (Asia-Pacific) with Lufthansa, said: “An investment to a modern and technologically advanced fleet is (not just) very good for the cash box first of all, but also for the environment (as well), and that is also the reason we are running the largest investment program in our corporate history ever. Read more

Most say no go to waste cooking oil for vehicles [News]

Every time dentist Anthony Goh wants to fill up his 70-litre diesel truck, he has only two pump stations to choose from.

They’re located in Tuas and Ang Mo Kio industrial estates, and going there can be a hassle as he lives in Holland Grove.

On top of it, the 43-year-old – whose Mercedes Benz truck runs solely on biodiesel made from waste cooking oil – can get fuel only five days a week as the pump stations are not open on weekends.

‘When I hit the half-tank mark, I make time to go down to the pump so I don’t have to worry about running low on the weekend,’ said the dentist who works at Mount Alvernia Hospital. He had opted to use the fuel for environmental reasons. Read more

Lufthansa’s Biofuel Trial On Commercial Flights

German flag-carrier Lufthansa is set to become the world’s first airline to use biofuel for an Airbus A321 on scheduled commercial flights on the Hamburg-Frankfurt route. One of the aircraft’s engines will use a 50-50 mix of biofuel and traditional kerosene. The major constituents of the biofuel are RSPO-certified palmoil, rapeseed and animal fats. The six-month trial, due to start in late 2011, will examine the effects of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life, and determine the feasibility of regular flight operations using biofuel. For the duration of the trial, Lufthansa estimates it will save 1,500 tonnes in CO2 emissions.

According to a study by the World Resource Institute in 2005, the aviation industry is currently responsible for only 1.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, Lufthansa aims to act accordingly with its Pure Sky initiative. Pure Sky covers all of Lufthansa’s important measures and activities concerning the technical exploration, research and use of renewable energy in aviation. Read more

Biofuels development: Singapore powering ahead, but gaps remain [News]

SINGAPORE is charging forward in a bid to be a powerhouse in renewable energy.

Early this month, Finnish firm Neste Oil officially opened in Tuas the world’s largest plant to make biodiesel using palm oil, palm waste and waste animal fat.

The plant, which exports to Europe and North America, joins those of other renewable-energy giants which opened here recently: Danish wind-power firm Vestas and Norwegian solar-energy company Renewable Energy Corporation.

Earlier this month, Singapore hosted a conference on energy harnessed from biological sources like plants and algae. Part of the prestigious Keystone Symposia series, it was attended by scientists worldwide. Read more

Demand For Biofuels Expected to Rise 20%-30% Annually [News]

This week, the European parliament voted for new rules that require lower emissions from commercial vehicles.

With governments globally continuing to set stiff targets for the use of “clean” energy, Biofuels Asia – a Singapore-based clean-energy company – is betting on Jatropha, a hardy plant that is a source of biodiesel.

One of the reasons Jatropha is gaining ground as a biodiesel alternative is that it can grow on tougher soil conditions.

Biofuels Asia said it expects demand for biofuels to increase between 20 and 30 per cent annually for the next decade. And it is rooting for Jatropha to tap that potential.

Richard Yong, CEO, Biofuels Asia, said: “The Europeans have come up with a renewable energy directive, which basically says by the year 2020, 20 per cent of their energy has to come from green and renewable sources such as biofuels. So we’ll see the demand growing. Read more

The Biofuels and Food Security Forum

Venue: The Auditorium, National University of Singapore University Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing, Level 2, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077

This forum is organised by the Energy Studies Institute and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, and will explore the pros and cons of the use of biofuels as an alternative fuel, against the backdrop of soaring oil and food prices in past months. The forum panelists include:

• Ambassador Paulo Alberto de Silveira Soares, Embassy of Brazil in Singapore
• Dr Hong Yan, Director of Plant Biotechnology, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (NUS)
• A/Prof Wang Jing-Yuan, Director, Environmental Engineering Research Centre (NTU)
• Prof Claudia Ann Kinsey, Clinical Nutritionist, Centre for Natural Medical Science Singapore
• Dr Geh Min, Immediate Past President, Nature Society (Singapore)

Check out details and registration here.

Regional Bioenergy System for Increasing Renewable Energy Utilization and Mitigating Climate Change

Speaker: Professor Yan Jinyue, Royal Institute of Technology and Mälardalen University, Sweden; Distinguished Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore

Venue: Engineering Auditorium, NUS Faculty of Engineering, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576

This seminar is organised by the Energy Studies Institute (ESI) and discusses the current research in bioenergy technologies (biomass and biofuel). The speaker will also explain the development of a regional bioenergy system and current research on the “fossil free region” in Sweden. Details and registration at the ESI website.