ITAKA provides sustainable fuel for first biojet supply via hydrant system
Oslo, January 22, 2016: ITAKA project contributes to the first commercial supply of sustainable biojet fuel in collaboration with Air BP and Avinor, the Norwegian airport operator, at Oslo Airport Gardermoen (Norway). ITAKA, funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program, is the first project worldwide that demonstrates the entire value chain in Europe from sustainable feedstock production to the use of the biojet fuel using the normal supply mechanism.
The fuel will be first used by Lufthansa Group, followed by Scandinavian national carrier SAS and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, strongly committed to the use of sustainable and low carbon renewable fuels. The sustainable biojet fuel has been produced from camelina grown in Spain by Camelina Company España (CCE) via the NEXBTL technology at Neste’s Porvoo refinery in Finland, and delivered to the airport by SkyNRG. The biojet fuel produced within ITAKA will be supplied directly into Oslo’s fuel hydrant system, meaning that it will become part of the airport’s common storage and distribution system without having to rely on a segregated infrastructure. This is a relevant breakthrough in the emerging market of biofuels for aviation and it is expected to foster an extensive adoption of non-segregated biofuel supplies worldwide.
These activities are framed within the EU’s vision for greening the aviation sector, one of which is the promotion of the development of alternative fuels for aviation. ITAKA is an on – going example of the research and innovation projects supported by the Commission that are delivering technological breakthrough developments for the aviation sector. The objective is reducing the CO2 emissions and shortening the time to market for new and cleaner solutions.
Dr. Inmaculada Gómez from SENASA, ITAKA Project coordinator, highlights: “We are very proud to take part in this pioneering initiative, bringing together several airlines and stakeholders united with a common objective: to support the implementation of sustainable fuels for the aviation industry, bringing the economic viability of biojet fuel a step closer to reality”.
David Gilmour, CEO for Air BP comments: “This is the first time aviation biofuel is being delivered through the normal supply mechanism, thus reducing logistics costs significantly. We want to demonstrate that airports can readily access biofuel with relative ease utilizing existing physical infrastructure. We anticipate that this will garner increased interest and demand, as well as contributing to a sustainable biofuel future for the aviation sector.”
“The commercial supply of sustainable jet fuel at Oslo Airport, using the existing infrastructure, demonstrates that the industry is now ready to take the next step in the development of this market, with KLM, Lufthansa and SAS as launching customers. We see that the Nordics, and especially Norway with the airport incentive installed by Avinor, have the basis and momentum to quickly move forward”, says Mr. Maarten van Dijk, CEO SkyNRG.
About ITAKA: The ITAKA project aims at supporting the development of aviation biofuels in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner, improving the readiness of existing technology and infrastructures. ITAKA is the first project worldwide that demonstrates the entire value chain for biojet production and the first supported by the EU on this topic and scope.
ITAKA partners are: SENASA (coordinator, ES), Airbus Group (FR, UK), Biotehgen (RO), Camelina Company España (ES), CLH (ES), Embraer (BR), EPFL (CH), Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), Neste (FI), RE-CORD (IT), SkyNRG (NL).
The ITAKA project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 308807.
For further information please visit: www.itaka-project.eu
Source: ITAKA