GE Aviation begins testing alcohol-to-jet fuel from Gevo
Jet engines vendor GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric, has initiated trials of a jet engine combustor component with US biofuels business Gevo's renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ). The trial is being carried out as part of the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) programme from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), and is aimed at facilitating the replacement of petroleum-based jet fuel with environmentally friendly options.
Jet engines provider GE Aviation, part of General Electric Co (NYSE:GE), has started jet engine combustor component testing with Gevo's renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ), the US biofuels firm said today.

The jet fuel being tested is comprised 100% of Gevo's ATJ. The trial is part of a programme of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) programme, and is aimed at enabling greater displacement of petroleum-based jet fuel by bio-based alternative products.

"Efforts such as this one are expected to help accelerate the transition from petroleum-based fuels to more environmentally friendly ones," said Gurhan Andac, engineering leader, aviation fuels and additives at GE Aviation.

According to Gevo's chief executive Patrick Gruber the future is to replace the whole barrel of oil with bio-based hydrocarbons.

The biofuels firm says its ATJ has the potential to improve performance by providing greater energy density which translates into better mileage.

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