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Biofuels

Air New Zealand Hearts Jatropha

August 29, 2008 at 9:33 AM | 0 Comments

We've been hyping up the alternative jatropha biofuel idea recently to help planes fly around a bit greener. So we're mighty pleased to hear that Air New Zealand is on track to make what it says will be the world's first large passenger aircraft test on jatrohpa-sourced fuel sometime before the end of 2008.

The jatropha plant, Air NZ says, is a great source for earth-friendly fuel--it grows with little water and produces an inedible oil, and they've been sourcing their jatropha from sustainable plantations in India and South East Africa. The oil is about to be sent to the engine people at Rolls Royce for final testing.

Air New Zealand has big green goals: it wants to be the most environmentally sustainable airline in the world, and has set an objective of using a million barrels of environmentally sustainable fuel per year by 2013. Mightn't be long before we're delayed on the tarmac for re-jatropha-ing.

Related Stories:
· Air New Zealand Bio Fuel Trial on Track for Year-End [Jaunted]
· Alternative Fuel Flying: Is Jatropha Nut Oil the Answer? [Jaunted]
· The Green, Green Skies of New Zealand [Jaunted]

[Photo of jatropha seeds: Laboratorio en Movimiento]