Why is Virgin Atlantic’s Low Carbon Jet Fuel Worth Talking About

Hopefully, the airline industry 

will someday benefit from 

Virgin Atlantic's new venture in 

low carbon jet fuel

Photo Credit: Petr Kratochvil / publicdomainpictures.net

Virgin Atlantic will implement the widespread use of a low carbon jet fuel by 2014 and it is making news around the internet. But what is good about it? What are the important aspects that make it worthwhile to report?

1. It is a first in the world in terms of jet fuel production

Being the first means that other companies may follow. It means that they might set the trend towards developing new sources of jet fuel. It also means that jet fuel production, in terms of our quest on finding an alternative fuel source, will not be left behind.

2. The jet fuel they aim to produce will come from waste gases produced by steel mills

If this process proves to be viable, 65% of the world’s steel mills can be fitted with this technology. This means that there will be a great reduction in carbon emissions from steel mills around the globe. And, instead of contributing to pollution, their emissions will now be a source of a cleaner type of fuel. Furthermore, this new technology may not be confined to the production of jet fuels alone. If this pushes through, there is a possibility that it will also be applied to automobile fuels.

3. It hopes to meet and surpass the 30% carbon reduction per passenger km by 2020

Although only 2% of the world’s carbon emissions is contributed by the aviation industry, unless it is proven that airlines do not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions at all, there will be taxes on pollution that will be passed on to passengers. Currently, each passenger pays approximately US$7 for emissions taxes.

While Virgin Atlantic, LanzaTech and Boeing, the partners in this low carbon jet fuel venture, seem to be doing well, it does not mean that they will not need our support. For this to be successful, Virgin Atlantic will still need us, the passengers, who will trust in their new jet fuel to take us to our destinations. They still need us, the readers, to let them know that we are looking forward to this new technology.