Can aircraft use biofuels or alternative fuel sources?
The industry is actively developing and testing potential alternative fuels for aviation. When blending biofuel made of crops or algae with traditional jet fuel, it is possible to substantially reduce CO2 emissions. One of the problems to be addressed is related to the temperature at which biofuels freeze, since aircraft operate at high altitudes where the outside temperature is very low. However, industry continues to examine using alternative fuels in the future with major airlines such as South African Airways, Qatar Airways and Virgin all pushing forward alternative fuel projects and trials. Hydrogen is being explored for application in the very near future in fuel cells for the auxiliary power units (APUs) that provide energy to aircraft standing at the gate. Hydrogen might become an option for aircraft engines from 2050, although significant design and infrastructure changes would be required, in particular regarding the size of the tanks since hydrogen is lighter but far more vo
