Press Release
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Honeywell's UOP Green Fuel Technology To Power Biofuel Demonstration Flight
For Air New Zealand
UOP process technology produced green jet fuel from jatropha that will power
an Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400
DES PLAINES, Ill., Nov. 11, 2008 – UOP LLC, a Honeywell (NYSE: HON)
company, announced today that its process technology was used to convert
second-generation, renewable feedstocks to green jet fuel that will be used on
a demonstration flight by Air New Zealand.
UOP collaborated with Air New Zealand, Boeing and Rolls-Royce to produce and
test renewable jet fuel made from the oil of jatropha plants. The flight,
slated for Dec. 3 in Auckland, New Zealand, will be the first ever of a
commercial airliner powered by sustainable, second-generation renewable
resources. The green jet fuel will be mixed 50/50 with Jet A1 and will power
one of the Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400’s Rolls-Royce engines RB211
engines.
“We must diversify our fuel supply to meet the rapid growth in energy demand
while effectively balancing social and environmental needs,” said Jennifer
Holmgren, general manager of UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business
unit. “This team has stepped up to do something about the rapidly evolving
energy landscape, and as a result, we could see viable commercial-scale
production and usage of biofuels in the aviation industry in a matter of just a
few years.”
Jatropha, an inedible plant can grow in conditions where other food crops
cannot, is considered a sustainable, second-generation resource because its
cultivation and harvesting do not tax valuable food, land or water resources,
and can provide socioeconomic benefit to the regions where it is grown.
UOP, a recognized global leader in process technology to convert petroleum
feedstocks to fuels and chemicals, is developing a range of processes to
produce green fuels from natural feedstocks. UOP’s green jet fuel process
technology is based on the hydroprocessing technology commonly used in today’s
refineries to produce transportation fuels.
In this process, hydrogen is added to remove oxygen from the biological
feedstock such as oil from jatropha plants or algae. The result is a
bio-derived jet fuel that acts as a drop-in replacement for petroleum-based jet
fuel and meets all of the critical specifications for flight.
Fuel produced for the sample flight was tested by aircraft engine manufacturer
Rolls-Royce and has successfully proven to meet all critical jet fuel
specifications for flight, including a freeze point at -47 degrees Celsius and
a flash point at 38 degrees Celsius.
“Laboratory testing showed the final blend had excellent properties meeting
and, in many cases, exceeding the stringent technical requirements for fuels
used in civil and defense aircraft,” said Company Specialist for Fuels at
Rolls-Royce Chris Lewis. “The blended fuel therefore meets the essential
requirement of being a ’drop-in’ fuel, meaning its properties will be virtually
indistinguishable from conventional fuel, Jet A1, which is used in commercial
aviation today.”
Boeing Commercial Airplane’s Managing Director of Environmental Strategy Billy
Glover said, “The processing technology exists today and based on results we’ve
seen it’s highly encouraging that this fuel not only met, but exceeded three
key criteria for the next generation of jet fuel – higher-than expected jet
fuel yields, very low freeze point and good energy density – that tell us we’re
on the right path to certification and commercial availability.”
“This flight strongly supports our efforts to be the world’s most
environmentally responsible airline,” said Air New Zealand Chief Executive
Officer Rob Fyfe. “We recently demonstrated the fuel and environmental gains
that can be achieved through advanced operational procedures using Boeing 777s.
We’re also modernizing our fleet as we await our Trent 1000-powered 787-9
Dreamliners that will burn 20 percent less fuel than the planes they replace.
Introducing a new generation of sustainable fuels is the next logical step in
our efforts to further save fuel and reduce aircraft emissions.”
UOP’s Renewable Energy & Chemicals business, which was formed in late 2006,
has already commercialized the UOP/Eni Ecofining™ process to produce green
diesel fuel from biological feedstocks. UOP has ongoing research efforts in
biofuels, with specific focus on second-generation feedstocks working with
organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE’s National
Renewable Energy Lab and Pacific Northwest National Lab. Its process technology
to convert natural oils and greases to jet fuel was originally developed as
part of a project funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA).
UOP, Boeing and Air New Zealand, along with Air France, ANA (All Nippon
Airways), Cargolux, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS and Virgin Atlantic
Airways, joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel User’s Group to accelerate the
development and commercialization of sustainable new aviation fuels.
Honeywell International is a $38 billion diversified technology and
manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and
services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive
products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township,
N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock
Exchanges. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.
UOP LLC, headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, is a leading
international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts,
adsorbents, process plants, and consulting services to the petroleum refining,
petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part of Honeywell’s Specialty Materials
strategic business group. For more information, go to www.uop.com.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than
statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or
our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur
in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience
and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant
factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results,
developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our
forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to
risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and
long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our
performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Contact:
Susan Gross
(847) 391-2380
susan.gross@honeywell.com
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