Recently, United Airlines conducted a short journey from Chicago O’Hare to D.C. Reagan National airport utilizing entirely plant-based jet fuel sourced from agricultural residue.
At present, regulations only permit aircraft to operate on 50% sustainable fuels; however, United received authorization to refuel completely following a successful trial run.
Virent, the firm responsible for the biofuel, highlights that their product’s main advantage lies in its chemical resemblance to petroleum-based jet fuels, allowing for the retention of the current infrastructure.
Furthermore, Virent’s fuel can slash greenhouse gas emissions produced during flights by almost half.
Setting a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, United aims to leverage Virent’s technology to attain this objective. In return, Virent anticipates that collaborating with United Airlines will expedite their path to commercialization in the near future.
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