Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 4
SECTION 1
Introduction
1.1 What Are Alternative Jet Fuels?
Alternative jet fuels are fuels made from nonpetroleum sources that have the same perfor-
mance characteristics as today's petroleum-based jet fuels such as Jet A and JP 8. They can be pro-
duced with different technologies and from a number of different feedstocks, both renewable
and nonrenewable. Renewable feedstocks include plant oils, animal fats, and biomass (e.g., crop
residues, wood chips, and prairie grasses); nonrenewable feedstocks include coal and natural gas.
Depending on the feedstock and technology process used, alternative jet fuels have different
environmental and economic characteristics.
The location of production facilities with respect to feedstocks and end users is a key determi-
nant of costs and, hence, the economic viability of alternative jet fuels. Therefore, it is important
to consider alternative jet fuel projects in the context of their entire supply chain, as shown in
Figure 1.
In addition to location, an important logistical consideration for alternative jet fuels is blend-
ing. Alternative jet fuels are currently certified and approved for use in existing jet fuel infrastruc-
ture as blends. Thus, these fuels need to be blended with conventional jet fuel prior to injection
into existing pipelines, storage, and other infrastructure and equipment.
1.2 What Is Driving the Interest
in Alternative Jet Fuels?
A diverse group of stakeholders, including airports, airlines, the military, and federal and local
governments, want alternative jet fuels for a series of economic, operational, and environmental
reasons. These reasons include:
To diversify sources of conventional jet fuel: Alternative jet fuels offer the aviation indus-
try the potential benefit of diversifying its supply of jet fuel. Virtually all of the jet fuel currently
used in aviation operations is derived from petroleum. Petroleum's limited spare productive
capacity and associated volatile, steadily increasing price are key business challenges for the
industry, primarily because jet fuel is one of aviation's highest cost components. By dedi-
cating resources to alternative jet fuels, the aviation community is looking for an opportu-
nity to diversify its fuel supply chain and introduce competition to one of its main operating
cost areas.
To improve reliability and security of supply: Alternative jet fuels can incrementally secure
the supply of liquid fuel to the airline industry. Given current technology, there are no practical
options to power aircraft engines other than with liquid fuels. Unlike other transportation
4
OCR for page 5
Introduction 5
Feedstocks
Dedicated alt. Blending Conventional
jet fuel Airport
Production location storage
transport and
facility end
users
Conventional jet
fuel
Figure 1. Schematic of the integrated alternative jet fuel supply chain.
sectors, such as ground and marine transportation, the aviation industry will be unable to
switch to nonliquid energy sources such as solar, nuclear, or hydrogen to power its airplanes,
at least in the near term. As competition for petroleum-based products intensifies due to
increased demand from other industry sectors and the possible exhaustion of this nonrenew-
able resource, there are concerns that aviation may find it difficult to meet its needs of liquid
fuels over time. Furthermore, alternative jet fuel production facilities need not be located in
the same places where conventional refineries are located. This would allow the geographic
diversification of production away from sites prone to natural disasters, such as the U.S.
Gulf Coast.
To enhance energy security: The United States is the largest net importer of petroleum.
These import supplies are subject to disruption because of regional or international conflicts.
As major users of petroleum-based jet fuel, U.S. airlines and the military would like to
develop domestic alternatives to lessen the dependence on foreign sources. The production
of alternative jet fuels using feedstocks that are available in the United States can help meet
this goal.
To reduce the volatility of the price of jet fuel: Alternative jet fuels may contribute to reduc-
ing the volatility of the price of jet fuel. By diversifying the supply of jet fuel and making jet fuel
less dependent on unstable foreign sources and more immune from the vagaries of financial
flows in the futures markets, alternative jet fuels may lead to less variability in the price of jet fuel.
Furthermore, as the alternative jet fuel industry develops, airlines may have the ability to enter
into long-term supply contracts with potential producers that would specify a certain price or
price band over time.
To provide regional economic benefits: Alternative jet fuels have the potential to generate
new jobs and spur economic activity, especially in rural areas where feedstocks can be grown.
In addition, the growth of a domestic alternative fuels industry would help reduce U.S. imports
of foreign crude, and thus those resources that would otherwise be spent abroad could be
re-invested domestically. Alternative jet fuels can also mitigate the economic impact of carbon
taxes or other charges under consideration for conventional jet fuel.
To provide potential environmental benefits: As a user of petroleum-based fuels, aviation is
a source of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate
matter (PM). The introduction of alternative jet fuels can potentially help reduce aviation's
environmental footprint, providing benefits to the airports, their surrounding communities, and
the airlines they serve.
