美國聯合航空公司決定投資3千萬美金（約9億新台幣）在替代燃料廠Fulcrum BioEnergy；這間公司的主要技術，就是將市區的固體垃圾轉換成低成本的永續航空生質能源。
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| 美國聯合航空致力於投資航空用生質燃料。聯合航空提供。 |
美國航空業首例 最大替代能源投資案
聯合航空表示，這是美國航空業有史以來最大的替代能源投資案。
「替代燃料這個新興產業，對航空業的未來至關重要。讓替代燃料可使用和可量產是我們的第一步。投資替代燃料不但有益環境，也有助我們公司減少油價波動風險和遵循碳法規。」聯合航空執行副總裁兼總法律顧問Brett Hart說。
Fulcrum公司表示，其「再生航空燃料的生命週期碳排放量比傳統航空燃料減少80%」，而且「符合飛航的技術要求與規格，供能方式與傳統燃料相同」。
Fulcrum的第一座垃圾生質燃料廠預計於2017年商業運轉。
聯合航空已經準備好迎接生質燃料的到來。聯航表示已花了超過10年時間，向Fulcrum爭取每年以「足以與傳統燃料競爭」的價格，每年購買9千萬加崙永續飛航燃料。
聯航致力研發航空用生質燃料
聯航以身為飛航生質燃料的領航者自豪。
2009年，聯航成為北美第一個以海藻和麻瘋樹做的永續生質燃料，進行雙引擎飛機飛行演示的公司。
2010年，聯航首次以天然氣合成燃料飛行，也是北美首次。隔年，美國出現第一架使用先進生質燃料的商業飛機。
2012年，聯航和波音公司、Honeywell的UOP生質燃料公司、芝加哥航管局和乾淨能源信託聯合發起中西部飛航永續生質燃料計畫。超過40個生質燃料供應鏈廠商和組織合作，加速中西部先進生質燃料商業化的進展。
此外，聯航和Fulcrum已同意在聯航的轉運站「規劃至多5個聯合開發計畫」，預計每年生產1億8千萬加崙生質燃料。
United Airlines has invested $30 million in alternative fuels developer Fulcrum BioEnergy, a company that turns municipal solid waste into low-cost sustainable aviation biofuel.
United said it’s the single largest equity investment ever made in alternative fuels by a U.S. airline.
“We know alternative fuels is an emerging industry that is vital to the future of aviation and this is just one of our initiatives to help make these fuels saleable and scalable,” said United’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel Brett Hart.
“Investing in alternative fuels is not only good for the environment,” said Hart, “it’s a smart move for our company as biofuels have the potential to hedge against future oil price volatility and carbon regulations.”
Fulcrum claims its “renewable jet fuel” will provide “a greater than 80 percent reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions when compared to conventional jet fuel.”
This drop-in fuel meets all the airline’s technical requirements and specifications, and will power the aircraft in the same way as conventional jet fuel, the companies stated Tuesday.
“We have combined the best team in biofuels with two of the largest waste services companies, two major airlines, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the best technology providers and a premier contractor to build out our program. I’m proud of what our team has accomplished and am very excited about the future,” said E. James Macias, Fulcrum’s president and chief executive.
Fulcrum expects its first waste-to-biofuel plant to begin commercial operation in 2017.
United is convinced and ready to commit to the alternative fuel. For a minimum of 10 years, United has negotiated the opportunity to purchase 90 million gallons a year of Fulcrum’s sustainable jet fuel at a price “competitive with conventional jet fuel,” the companies said.
United takes pride in having been “a long-time leader in aviation biofuels.”
In 2009, it became the first North American carrier to perform a two-engine aircraft flight demonstration using sustainable biofuels made from algae and jatropha.
In 2010, United operated the first flight by a North American carrier using synthetic fuel from natural gas. The following year, there was the first U.S. commercial flight powered by advanced biofuels.
In 2012, United, together with aircraft giant Boeing, Honeywell’s UOP, the Chicago Department of Aviation, and the Clean Energy Trust launched the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative.
This effort by more than 40 organizations across the aviation biofuels supply chain seeks to accelerate the commercialization of advanced biofuels in the Midwest.
Finally, United and Fulcrum have agreed to “contemplate joint development of up to five projects” located near United’s hubs. These, in total, are projected to produce up to 180 million gallons of fuel a year.
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