Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi's Masdar Institute, Boeing, Etihad Airways and Honeywell on Sunday announced at a news conference an agreement to establish the first sustainable bioenergy research project dedicated to sustainable energy solutions.
The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Project (SBRP) will use integrated saltwater agriculture systems to support the development and commercialisation of biofuel sources for aviation and co-products.
The project in Abu Dhabi will take place over two square kilometres. Sustainable biofuel development is a key element of aviation's carbon emissions reduction strategy, the speakers said.
"It's an R & D [Research and Development] project scheduled to last five years. We will use plants that can grow using salt water," said Dr John Perkins, Provost for the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
He however, declined to provide any investment figures in the venture.
"We want to contribute to the targets the industry has set with regard to emissions," said Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer for Etihad.
Boeing's President for the Middle East, Paul Kinscherff said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set a target for commercial aircraft to reduce their carbon emissions by 1.5 per cent between now and 2020 and by 50 per cent by 2050.
Etihad's Baumgartner said the airline will start using alternative jet fuels "as soon as it's available in the quantities we need."
