MONTREAL, QUEBEC — (Marketwired) — 05/13/13 — BioFuelNet has signed an agreement with Air Canada and Airbus to help them find the most promising biofuels for aviation. Air Canada and Airbus are part of a broad coalition, which has pledged Carbon Neutral Growth from 2020 and to reduce greenhouse emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. , a not-for-profit organization hosted by Montreal–s McGill University, will assess the viability of various Canadian advanced biofuels solutions for aviation. Their research will focus on diverse raw materials, such as municipal solid waste and agricultural and forestry waste, as well as a range of conversion processes available for biofuel production. The ultimate goal is to determine which advanced biofuels are the most sustainable for aviation. The agreement was signed at BioFuelNet–s headquarters in the (QI) in Montreal, on the 13th of May 2013, the day of the official QI launch.
Dr. Donald Smith, President of BioFuelNet and McGill University Professor stated, “Aviation biofuels are one of the most promising ways to reduce the aviation industry–s carbon footprint, making air travel more environmentally-friendly. Airbus and Air Canada are key players in the field, dedicated to finding the most sustainable fuel sources for the future of air travel. These relationships are of great importance to BioFuelNet Canada”.
“The commercialisation of sustainable alternative fuels is a key to reducing our sectors carbon footprint. The support and leadership of BioFuelNet in facilitating research and of airlines like Air Canada is an essential element in achieving this. Together we are showing that new lower carbon footprint aviation fuels work on existing aircraft and meet certification requirements,” said Frederic Eychenne, Airbus New Energies Programme Manager.
“Air Canada has already operated two flights with biofuel and on each occasion we substantially reduced our emissions. Encouraged by these results, we look forward to participating in this project to encourage the development of a source of alternative fuel in Canada. New technologies, such as alternative fuels, are one of the ways our industry plans to reduce its emissions to meet its target of carbon-neutral growth for 2020 and beyond,” said Paul Whitty, Director of Fuel Purchasing and Supply at Air Canada and Chair of the Air Canada Alternative Fuels Working Group.
BioFuelNet was launched in 2012 as part of the Federal program, which funds BioFuelNet through a $25 million grant over 5 years. BioFuelNet brings together 74 leading researchers working on advanced biofuels in Canada, as well as industry partners and government, in order to accelerate research, development, and commercialization of advanced biofuels.
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Contacts:
Annie Webb
Manager of Communications & Public Relations
BioFuelNet Canada
514 508 2884 ext. 840
Interviews:
Don Smith, President of BioFuelNet
can be contacted directly for interviews at:
514-975-6170
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Please contact Peter Fitzpatrick,
Manager of Media Relations Central
416-263-5576