NExBTL aviation fuel
Neste Oil is a global pioneer in aviation biofuels. The company’s NExBTL renewable aviation fuel meets the very stringent quality standards demanded of aircraft fuel and can be produced in industrial quantities.
Neste Oil has committed itself to the European Aviation Biofuels Flightpath that is aimed at increasing the use of aviation biofuels to 2 million tons annually by 2020. The joint goal is to ensure that aviation biofuels are produced sustainably and are suitable for use by aircrafts flying on commercial routes. Read more about the European Aviation Biofuels Flightplan.
Flexible range of raw materials and lower emissions
Neste Oil’s renewable aviation fuel is based on the company’s NExBTL technology, which can make very flexible use of a wide range of vegetable oil and waste-based raw materials, such as waste animal fat from the food industry. Neste Oil’s procurement chain ensures that all its renewable inputs are produced sustainably.
NExBTL renewable aviation fuel can significantly reduce an aircraft’s greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel. In addition to a smaller carbon footprint, it also offers lower emissions of other pollutants such as NOx.
Read more about the renewable raw materials used by Neste Oil and the company’s sustainable raw material procurement chain.
Aiming for a commercial product
Unlike road traffic, no mandated levels have been imposed on the use of biofuels in the air to encourage their uptake so far. As a result, usage has been limited to isolated trials. Airlines are becoming increasingly interested in the potential of these fuels, however, as the industry needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
Neste Oil’s aim is to launch commercial production of NExBTL renewable aviation fuel and generate growth as a supplier of this new fuel. In July 2011, a German airline Lufthansa began regularly scheduled commercial flights using Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable aviation fuel. This made Lufthansa the world’s first airline to utilize biofuel in daily flight operations and Neste Oil the first company to provide the biofuel to be used on regularly scheduled, commercial flights. The use of Neste Oil’s NExBTL aviation fuel became possible on 1 July as a certifying organization ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International approved the use of renewable aviation fuel produced through hydrotreating vegetable oils and animal fats.
Quality is key to the uptake of aviation biofuels
Quality is particular important in the aviation sector, as aircraft fuel must have a high energy content and be capable of being used in cold conditions. Conventional biodiesel and ethanol cannot meet these requirements. Neste Oil’s NExBTL renewable aviation fuel, on the other hand, does, as it is a pure hydrocarbon comparable to fossil-based aviation fuel.
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